Method and Nucleic Acids for the Improved Treatment of Breast Cell Proliferative Disorders

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to modified and genomic sequences, to oligonucleotides and/or PNA-oligomers for detecting the cytosine methylation state of genomic DNA, as well as to a method for predicting the response of a subject with a cell proliferative disorder of the breast tissues, to endocrine treatment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/517,741 filed Jan. 3, 2006, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,101,359; which is a 35 USC §371 National Stage application of International Application No. PCT/EP03/10881 filed Oct. 1, 2003; which claims the benefit under 35 USC §119(a) to Germany Patent Application No. 10317955.0 filed Apr. 17, 2003, Germany Patent Application No. 10300096.8 filed Jan. 7, 2003 and to Germany Patent Application No. 10245779.4 filed Oct. 1, 2002. The disclosure of each of the prior applications is considered part of and is incorporated by reference in the disclosure of this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to genomic DNA methylation and to patients with breast cell proliferative disorders (e.g., breast cancer). Particular embodiments of the invention provide novel compositions, and methods for the diagnosis of individuals with said disorders.

2. Background Information

The levels of observation that have been studied by the methodological developments of recent years in molecular biology, are the genes themselves, the translation of these genes into RNA, and the resulting proteins. The question of which gene is switched on at which point in the course of the development of an individual, and how the activation and inhibition of specific genes in specific cells and tissues are controlled is correlatable to the degree and character of the methylation of the genes or of the genome. In this respect, pathogenic conditions may manifest themselves in a changed methylation pattern of individual genes or of the genome.

DNA methylation plays a role, for example, in the regulation of the transcription, in genetic imprinting, and in tumorigenesis. Therefore, the identification of 5-methylcytosine as a component of genetic information is of considerable interest. However, 5-methylcytosine positions cannot be identified by sequencing since 5-methylcytosine has the same base pairing behaviour as cytosine. Moreover, the epigenetic information carried by 5-methylcytosine is completely lost during PCR amplification.

A relatively new and currently the most frequently used method for analysing DNA for 5-methylcytosine is based upon the specific reaction of bisulfite with cytosine which, upon subsequent alkaline hydrolysis, is converted to uracil which corresponds to thymidine in its base pairing behaviour. However, 5-methylcytosine remains unmodified under these conditions. Consequently, the original DNA is converted in such a manner that methylcytosine, which originally could not be distinguished from cytosine by its hybridisation behaviour, can now be detected as the only remaining cytosine using “normal” molecular biological techniques, for example, by amplification and hybridisation or sequencing. All of these techniques are based on base pairing which can now be fully exploited. In terms of sensitivity, the prior art is defined by a method which encloses the DNA to be analysed in an agarose matrix, thus preventing the diffusion and renaturation of the DNA (bisulfite only reacts with single-stranded DNA), and which replaces all precipitation and purification steps with fast dialysis (Olek A, Oswald J, Walter J. A modified and improved method for bisulphite based cytosine methylation analysis. Nucleic Acids Res. 1996 Dec. 15; 24(24):5064-6). Using this method, it is possible to analyse individual cells, which illustrates the potential of the method. However, currently only individual regions of a length of up to approximately 3000 base pairs are analysed, a global analysis of cells for thousands of possible methylation events is not possible. However, this method cannot reliably analyse very small fragments from small sample quantities either. These are lost through the matrix in spite of the diffusion protection.

An overview of the further known methods of detecting 5-methylcytosine may be gathered from the following review article: Rein, T., DePamphilis, M. L., Zorbas, H., Nucleic Acids Res. 1998, 26, 2255.

To date, barring few exceptions (e.g., Zeschnigk M, Lich C, Buiting K, Doerfler W, Horsthemke B. A single-tube PCR test for the diagnosis of Angelman and Prader-Willi syndrome based on allelic methylation differences at the SNRPN locus. Eur J Hum Genet. 1997 March-April; 5(2):94-8), the bisulfite technique is only used in research. Always, however, short, specific fragments of a known gene are amplified subsequent to a bisulfite treatment and either completely sequenced (Olek A, Walter J. The pre-implantation ontogeny of the H19 methylation imprint. Nat. Genet. 1997 November; 17(3):275-6) or individual cytosine positions are detected by a primer extension reaction (Gonzalgo M L, Jones P A. Rapid quantitation of methylation differences at specific sites using methylation-sensitive single nucleotide primer extension (Ms-SNuPE). Nucleic Acids Res. 1997 Jun. 15; 25(12):2529-31, WO 95/00669) or by enzymatic digestion (Xiong Z, Laird P W. COBRA: a sensitive and quantitative DNA methylation assay. Nucleic Acids Res. 1997 Jun. 15; 25(12):2532-4). In addition, detection by hybridisation has also been described (Olek et al., WO 99/28498).

Further publications dealing with the use of the bisulfite technique for methylation detection in individual genes are: Grigg G, Clark S. Sequencing 5-methylcytosine residues in genomic DNA. Bioessays. 1994 June; 16(6):431-6, 431; Zeschnigk M, Schmitz B, Dittrich B, Buiting K, Horsthemke B, Doerfler W. Imprinted segments in the human genome: different DNA methylation patterns in the Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome region as determined by the genomic sequencing method. Hum Mol. Genet. 1997 March; 6(3):387-95; Feil R, Charlton J, Bird A P, Walter J, Reik W. Methylation analysis on individual chromosomes: improved protocol for bisulphite genomic sequencing. Nucleic Acids Res. 1994 Feb. 25; 22(4):695-6; Martin V, Ribieras S, Song-Wang X, Rio M C, Dante R. Genomic sequencing indicates a correlation between DNA hypomethylation in the 5′ region of the pS2 gene and its expression in human breast cancer cell lines. Gene. 1995 May 19; 157(1-2):261-4; WO 97/46705, WO 95/15373, and WO 97/45560.

An overview of the Prior Art in oligomer array manufacturing can be gathered from a special edition of Nature Genetics (Nature Genetics Supplement, Volume 21, January 1999), published in January 1999, and from the literature cited therein.

Fluorescently labelled probes are often used for the scanning of immobilised DNA arrays. The simple attachment of Cy3 and Cy5 dyes to the 5′-OH of the specific probe are particularly suitable for fluorescence labels. The detection of the fluorescence of the hybridised probes may be carried out, for example via a confocal microscope. Cy3 and Cy5 dyes, besides many others, are commercially available.

Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) is a very efficient development for the analysis of biomolecules (Karas M, Hillenkamp F. Laser desorption ionisation of proteins with molecular masses exceeding 10,000 daltons. Anal Chem. 1988 Oct. 15; 60(20):2299-301). An analyte is embedded in a light-absorbing matrix. The matrix is evaporated by a short laser pulse thus transporting the analyte molecule into the vapour phase in an unfragmented manner. The analyte is ionised by collisions with matrix molecules. An applied voltage accelerates the ions into a field-free flight tube. Due to their different masses, the ions are accelerated at different rates. Smaller ions reach the detector sooner than bigger ones.

MALDI-TOF spectrometry is excellently suited to the analysis of peptides and proteins. The analysis of nucleic acids is somewhat more difficult (Gut I G, Beck S. DNA and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry. Current Innovations and Future Trends. 1995, 1; 147-57). The sensitivity to nucleic acids is approximately 100 times worse than to peptides and decreases disproportionally with increasing fragment size. For nucleic acids having a multiply negatively charged backbone, the ionisation process via the matrix is considerably less efficient. In MALDI-TOF spectrometry, the selection of the matrix plays an eminently important role. For the desorption of peptides, several very efficient matrixes have been found which produce a very fine crystallisation. There are now several responsive matrixes for DNA, however, the difference in sensitivity has not been reduced. The difference in sensitivity can be reduced by chemically modifying the DNA in such a manner that it becomes more similar to a peptide. Phosphorothioate nucleic acids in which the usual phosphates of the backbone are substituted with thiophosphates can be converted into a charge-neutral DNA using simple alkylation chemistry (Gut I G, Beck S. A procedure for selective DNA alkylation and detection by mass spectrometry. Nucleic Acids Res. 1995 Apr. 25; 23(8):1367-73). The coupling of a charge tag to this modified DNA results in an increase in sensitivity to the same level as that found for peptides. A further advantage of charge tagging is the increased stability of the analysis against impurities which make the detection of unmodified substrates considerably more difficult.

Genomic DNA is obtained from DNA of cell, tissue or other test samples using standard methods. This standard methodology is found in references such as Fritsch and Maniatis eds., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 1989.

Breast cancer is currently the second most common type of cancer amongst women. In 2001, over 190,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer and over 47,000 additional cases of in situ breast cancer were diagnosed. Incidence and death rates increase with age. For the period 1994-1998, the incidence of breast cancer amongst women between the ages of 20 and 24 was only 1.5 per 100,000 population. However, the risk increases to 489.7 within the age group 75-79. Mortality rates have decreased by approximately 5% over the last decade and factors affecting 5 year survival rates include age, stage of cancer, socioeconomic factors and race.

Breast cancer is defined as the uncontrolled proliferation of cells within breasts tissues. Breasts are comprised of 15 to 20 lobes joined together by ducts. Cancer arises most commonly in the duct, but is also found in the lobes with the rarest type of cancer termed inflammatory breast cancer.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there exists a continuing need to improve methods of early detection, classification and treatment of breast cancers. In contrast to the detection of some other common cancers such as cervical and dermal there are inherent difficulties in classifying and detecting breast cancers.

The first step of any treatment is the assessment of the patient's condition comparative to defined classifications of the disease. However the value of such a system is inherently dependant upon the quality of the classification. Breast cancers are staged according to their size, location and occurrence of metastasis. Methods of treatment include the use of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and endocrine therapy, which are also used as adjuvant therapies to surgery.

Endocrine therapies have been developed in order to block the effects of estrogen on cancer cells or to reduce serum estrogen levels. Tamoxifen (TAM) is the most widely used antioestrogenic drug for breast cancer patients. It acts blocking estrogen stimulation of breast cancer cells, inhibiting both translocation and nuclear binding of estrogen receptor. TAM is used in adjuvant setting for primary breast cancer patients and for the treatment of metastatic disease and its effectiveness has been proved in several clinical trials. Treatment for five years reduces annual disease recurrence by 47% and annual deaths by 26% and this reduction is similar in different age groups. Also it reduces the incidence of developing contralateral breast tumours. TAM is among the least toxic antineoplastic agents but as it has estrogenic properties in some tissues, it increases by 3 folds the risk of endometrial cancer. Other endocrine therapies include aromatase inhibitors, which block the enzyme aromatase in adipose tissue (the main source of estrogen in postmenopausal women) and lead to reduced or abolished production of estrogens in adipose tissue. Also, new agents which block or modulate the estrogen receptor have been developed, they are generally summarised as SERMs=selective estrogen receptor modulators. Yet another way to reduce the amount of estrogen available to the tumour is to apply agents which interrupt the feed-back loop in sex hormone regulation (LH-RH analogues) at a higher level.

In general, the side-effects of endocrine treatment are harmless compared to chemotherapy. However, as endocrine treatments eliminate or reduce estrogen as a growth factor for cancer, they work only for tumours which rely on estrogen as a growth factor. The growth of cancers which do not have a functional ER pathway cannot be modulated by endocrine therapies.

The current way to determine if a tumour will respond to endocrine therapies is the analysis of expression of hormone receptors. Hormone receptor status should be tested prior to any endocrine treatment as only a group of patients will benefit from therapy. For this purpose ER (estrogen receptor) and PR (progesterone receptor) status are tested routinely in all patients and they are considered predictive markers of response (a predictive marker or factor is any measurement associated with response or lack of response to a particular therapy). ER status is predictive of response in adjuvant endocrine therapy setting and also in advanced metastatic disease.

Currently, ER positive and or PR positive patients receive TAM and the remaining 10% of patients receive chemotherapy. The problem is that the endocrine treatment is only effective in a subgroup of hormone receptor positive patients and also, that a small subgroup of ER negative patients appear initially to respond to TAM. Then, the non responder subgroup will not only not benefit from endocrine treatment but have the adverse effects of it and will not have the opportunity to receive chemotherapy instead. On the other hand, the ER negative subgroup that could have benefit from endocrine treatment will receive instead chemotherapy. Several different assays are available to measure PR and ER, including biochemical and IHC (immunohistochemical) analysis, but there is a lack of standardisation of staining methods and interlaboratory variability (Clin Cancer Res 2000, 6:616-621).

Currently several predictive markers are under evaluation. As up to now most patients have received Tamoxifen as endocrine treatment most of the markers have been shown to be associated with response or resistance to tamoxifen. However, it is generally assumed that there is a large overlap between responders to one or the other endocrine treatment. In fact, ER and PR expression are used to select patients for any endocrine treatment. Among the markers which have been associated with TAM response is bcl-2. High bcl-2 levels showed promising correlation to TAM therapy response in patients with metastatic disease and prolonged survival and added valuable information to ER negative patient subgroup (J Clin Oncology 1997, 15 5:1916-1922; Endocrine, 2000, 13(1):1-10). There is conflicting evidence regarding the independent predictive value of c-erbB2 (Her2/neu) over expression in patients with advance breast cancer that require further evaluation and verification (British J of Cancer 1999, 79 (7/8):1220-1226; J Natl Cancer Inst, 1998, 90 (21): 1601-1608).

Other predictive markers include SRC-1 (steroid receptor coactivator-1), CGA gene over expression, cell kinetics and S phase fraction assays (Breast Cancer Res and Treat, 1998, 48:87-92; Oncogene 2001, 20:6955-6959). Recently, uPA (Urokinase-type plasminogen activator) and PAI-1 (Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1) together showed to be useful to define a subgroup of patients who have worse prognosis and who would benefit from adjuvant systemic therapy (J Clinical Oncology, 2002, 20 no 4). All of these markers need further evaluations in prospective trials as none of them is yet a validated marker of response.

A number of cancer-associated genes have been shown to be inactivated by hypermethylation of CpG islands during breast tumorigenesis. Decreased expression of the calcium binding protein S100A2 (Accession number NM_(—)005978) has been associated with the development of breast cancers. Hypermethylation of the promoter region of this gene has been observed in neoplastic cells thus providing evidence that S100A2 repression in tumour cells is mediated by site-specific methylation.

The SYK gene (Accession number NM_(—)003177) encodes a protein tyrosine kinase, Syk (spleen tyrosine kinase), that is highly expressed in hematopoietic cells. Syk is expressed in normal breast ductal epithelial cells but not in a subset of invasive breast carcinoma. Also, the loss of Syk expression seems to be associated with malignant phenotypes such as increased motility and invasion. The loss of expression occurs at the transcriptional level, and, as indicated by Yuan Y, Mendez R, Sahin A and Dai J L (Hypermethylation leads to silencing of the SYK gene in human breast cancer. Cancer Res. 2001 Jul. 15; 61(14):5558-61.), as a result of DNA hypermethylation.

The TGF-β type 2 receptor (encoded by the TGFBR2 gene, NM_(—)003242) plays a role in trans-membrane signalling pathways via a complex of serine/threonine kinases. Mutations in the gene have been detected in some primary tumours and in several types of tumour-derived cell lines, including breast (Lucke C D, Philpott A, Metcalfe J C, Thompson A M, Hughes-Davies L, Kemp P R, Hesketh R ‘Inhibiting mutations in the transforming growth factor beta type, 2 receptor in recurrent human breast cancer.’ Cancer Res. 2001 Jan. 15; 61(2):482-5.).

The genes COX7A2L and GRIN2D were both identified as novel estrogen responsive elements by Watanabe et. al. (Isolation of estrogen-responsive genes with a CpG island library. Molec. Cell. Biol. 18: 442-449, 1998.) using the CpG-GBS (genomic binding site) method. The gene COX7A2L (Accession number NM_(—)004718 encodes a, polypeptide 2-like cytochrome C oxidase subunit VIIA. Northern blot analysis detected an upregulation of COX7A2L after estrogen treatment of a breast cancer cell line. The gene GRIN2D (Accession number NM_(—)000836) encodes the N-methyl-D-aspartate, ionotropic, subunit 2D glutamate receptor, a subunit of the NMDA receptor channels associated with neuronal signalling, furthermore expression of the cDNA has been observed in an osteosarcoma cell line. The gene VTN (also known as Vitronectin. Accession number NM_(—)000638) encodes a 75-kD glycoprotein (also called serum spreading factor or complement S-protein) that promotes attachment and spreading of animal cells in vitro, inhibits cytolysis by the complement C5b-9 complex, and modulates antithrombin III-thrombin action in blood coagulation. Further expression of this gene has been linked to progression and invasiveness of cancer cells.

The gene SFN (also known as Stratifin) encodes a polypeptide of the 14-3-3 family, 14-3-3 sigma. The 14-3-3 family of proteins mediates signal transduction by binding to phosphoserine-containing proteins. Expression of the SFN gene is lost in breast carcinomas, this is likely due to hypermethylatin during the early stages of neoplastic transformation (see Umbricht C B, Evron E, Gabrielson E, Ferguson A, Marks J, Sukumar S. Hypermethylation of 14-3-3 sigma (stratifin) is an early event in breast cancer. Oncogene. 2001 Jun. 7; 20(26):3348-53).

The gene PSA (Accession number NM_(—)021154), also known as PSA-T, is not to be confused with the gene also popularly referred to as PSA (Accession number NM_(—)001648) which encodes prostate specific antigen and whose technically correct name is kallikrein 3. The gene PSA-T encodes the protein phosphoserine aminotransferase which is the second step-catalysing enzyme in the serine biosynthesis pathway. Changes in gene expression levels have been monitored by mRNA expression analysis and upregulation of the gene has been identified in colonic carcinoma in a study of 6 samples (Electrophoresis 2002 June; 23(11):1667-76 mRNA differential display of gene expression in colonic carcinoma. Ojala P, Sundstrom J, Gronroos J M, Virtanen E, Talvinen K, Nevalainen T J.).

The gene stathimin (NM_(—)005563) codes for an oncoprotein 18, also known as stathimin, a conserved cytosolic phosphoprotein that regulates microtubule dynamics. The protein is highly expressed in a variety of human malignancies. In human breast cancers the stahimin gene has shown to be up-regulated in a subset of the tumours.

The gene PRKCD encodes a member of the family of protein kinase c enzymes, and is involved in B cell signaling and in the regulation of growth, apoptosis, and differentiation of a variety of cell types.

Some of these molecules interact in a cascade-like manner. PRKCD activity that targets STMN1 is modulated by SFN binding and SYK phosphorylation. Together this influences tubulin polymerization that is required for cell division.

The gene MSMB (Accession number NM_(—)002443) has been mapped to 10q11.2. It encodes the beta-microseminoprotein (MSP) which is one of the major proteins secreted by the prostate. Furthermore, it may be useful as a diagnostic marker for prostate cancer. Using mRNA analysis low levels of beta-MSP mRNA expression and protein have been linked to progression under endocrine therapy and it has been postulated that it may be indicative of potentially aggressive-prostate cancer (see Sakai H, Tsurusaki T, Kanda S, Koji T, Xuan J W, Saito Y. ‘Prognostic significance of beta-microseminoprotein mRNA expression in prostate cancer.’ Prostate. 1999 Mar. 1; 38(4):278-84.).

The gene TP53 (Accession number NM_(—)000546) encodes the protein p53, one of the most well characterised tumour suppressor proteins. The p53 protein acts as a transcription factor and serves as a key regulator of the cell cycle. Inactivation of this gene through mutation disrupts the cell cycle, which, in turn, assists in tumour formation. Methylation changes associated with this gene have been reported to be significant in breast cancer. Saraswati et. al. (Nature 405, 974-978 (22 Jun. 2000) ‘Compromised HOXA5 function can limit p53 expression in human breast tumours’ reported that low levels of p53 mRNA in breast tumours was correlated to methylation of the HOXA5 gene. The product of the HOX5A gene binds to the promoter region of the p53 and mediates expression of the gene. Methylation of the promoter region of the p53 gene itself has been reported (Kang J H, Kim S J, Noh D Y, Park I A, Choe K J, Yoo O J, Kang H S. ‘Methylation in the p53 promoter is a supplementary route to breast carcinogenesis: correlation between CpG methylation in the p53 promoter and the mutation of the p53 gene in the progression from ductal carcinoma in situ to invasive ductal carcinoma.’ Lab Invest. 2001 April; 81(4):573-9.). It was therein demonstrated that CpG methylation in the p53 promoter region is found in breast cancer and it was hypothesised that methylation in the p53 promoter region could be an alternative pathway to neoplastic progression in breast tumours. It has been observed that treatment with Tamoxifen decreases the level of expression of the p53 gene (Farczadi E, Kaszas I, Baki M, Szende B. ‘Changes in apoptosis, mitosis, Her-2, p53 and Bc12 expression in breast carcinomas after short-term tamoxifen treatment.’ Neoplasma. 2002; 49(2):101-3.).

The gene CYP2D6 (Accession number: NM_(—)000106) is a member of the human cytochrome P450 (CYP) superfamily. Many members of this family are involved in drug metabolism (see for example Curr Drug Metab. 2002 June; 3(3):289-309. Rodrigues A D, Rushmore T H.), of these Cytochrome P450 CYP2D6 is one of the most extensively characterised. It is highly polymorphic (more than 70 variations of the gene have been described), and allelic variation can result in both increased and decreased enzymatic activity. The CYP2D6 enzyme catalyses the metabolism of a large number of clinically important drugs including antidepressants, neuroleptics, some antiarrhythmics (Nature 1990 Oct. 25; 347(6295):773-6 Identification of the primary gene defect at the cytochrome P450 CYP2D locus. Gough A C, Miles J S, Spurr N K, Moss J E, Gaedigk A, Eichelbaum M, Wolf C R.).

The gene PTGS2 (Accession number NM_(—)000963) encodes an inducible isozyme of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase (prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2). Aberrant methylation of this gene has been identified in lung carcinoimas (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2002 March; 11(3):291-7 Hierarchical clustering of lung cancer cell lines using DNA methylation markers. Virmani A K, Tsou J A, Siegmund K D, Shen L Y, Long T I, Laird P W, Gazdar A F, Laird-Offring a I A.).

The gene CGA (Accession number NM_(—)000735) encodes the alpha polypetptide of glycoprotein hormones. Further, it has been identified as an estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha)-responsive gene and overexpression of the gene has been linked to ER positivity in breast tumours. Bieche et. al. examined mRNA levels of said gene in 125 ER alpha-positive postmenopausal breast cancer patients treated with primary surgery followed by adjuvant tamoxifen therapy. Initial results indicated significant links between CGA gene overexpression and Scarff-Bloom-Richardson histopathological grade I+II and progesterone and estrogen receptor positivity, which suggested that CGA is a marker of low tumour aggressiveness (‘Identification of CGA as a Novel Estrogen Receptor-responsive Gene in Breast Cancer An Outstanding Candidate Marker to predict the Response to Endocrine TherapyCancer Research’ 61, 1652-1658, Feb. 15, 2001. Ivan Bièche, Béatrice Parfait, Vivianne Le Doussal, Martine Olivi, Marie-Christine R10, Rosette Lidereau and Michel Vidaud). Further mRNA expression analysis linked CGA expression levels to Tamoxifen response. It was postulated that when combined with analysis of the marker ERBB2 (a marker of poor response) the gene may be useful as a predictive marker of tamoxifen responsiveness in breast cancer (Oncogene 2001 Oct. 18; 20(47):6955-9 The CGA gene as new predictor of the response to endocrine therapy in ER alpha-positive postmenopausal breast cancer patients. Bieche I, Parfait B, Nogues C, Andrieu C, Vidaud D, Spyratos F, Lidereau R, Vidaud M.). The authors provided significant data associating the expression of the gene CGA with Tamoxifen treatment response. However, said analyses have all focused upon the analysis of relative levels of mRNA expression. This is not a methodology that is suitable for a medium or high throughput, nor is it a suitable basis for the development of a clinical assay.

The gene PITX-2 (NM_(—)000325) encodes a transcription factor (PITX-2) which is known to be expressed during development of anterior structures such as the eye, teeth, and anterior pituitary. Although the expression of this gene is associated with cell differentiation and proliferation it has no heretofore recognised role in carcinogenesis or responsiveness to endocrine treatment. Furthermore, to date no known analysis of the methylation state of this gene has been reported.

RASSF1A (Ras association domain family 1A) gene is a candidate tumour suppressor gene at 3p21.3. The Ras GTPases are a superfamily of molecular switches that regulate cellular proliferation and apoptosis in response to extra-cellular signals. It is purported that RASSF1A is a tumour suppressor gene, and epigenetic alterations of this gene have been observed in a variety of cancers. Methylation of RASSF1A has been associated with poor prognosis in primary non-small cell lung cancer (Kim D H, Kim J S, Ji Y I, Shim Y M, Kim H, Han J, Park J., ‘Hypermethylation of RASSF1A promoter is associated with the age at starting smoking and a poor prognosis in primary non-small cell lung cancer.’ Cancer Res. 2003 Jul. 1; 63(13):3743-6.). It has also been associated with the development of pancreatic cancer (Kuzmin I, Liu L, Dammann R, Geil L, Stanbridge E J, Wilczynski S P, Lerman M I, Pfeifer G P. ‘Inactivation of RAS association domain family 1A gene in cervical carcinomas and the role of human papillomavirus infection.’ Cancer Res. 2003 Apr. 15; 63(8):1888-93.), as well as testicular tumours and prostate carcinoma amongst others. The application of the methylation of this gene as a cancer diagnostic marker has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,596,488. It does not, however, describe its application in the selection of appropriate treatments regimens for patients.

Also located within 3p21 is the Dystroglycan precursor gene (Dystrophin-associated glycoprotein 1) (NM_(—)004393). Dystroglycan (DG, also known as DAG1) is an adhesion molecule comprising two subunits namely alpha-DG and beta-DG. The molecule is responsible for crucial interactions between extracellular matrix and cytoplasmatic compartment and it has been hypothesised that as such it may contribute to progression to metastatic disease. Decreased expression of this gene has been associated with correlated with higher tumour grade and stage in colon, prostate and breast tumours.

The onecut-2 transcription factor gene (NM_(—)004852) is located at 18q21.31 is a homeo-domain transcription factor regulator of liver gene expression in adults and during development.

The trefoil factor (TFF) 2 gene (NM_(—)003225) is a member of the trefoil family of proteins. They are normally expressed at highest levels in the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, however, they are often expressed ectopically in primary tumours of other tissues, including breast. The expression of TFF1 is regulated by estrogen in estrogen-responsive breast cancer cells in culture. Its expression is associated with that of the estrogen receptor and TFF1 is a marker of hormone responsiveness in tumours. TFF1 promoter methylation has been observed in nonexpressing gastric carcinoma-derived cell lines and tissues.

TMEFF2 (NM_(—)016192) encodes a transmembrane protein containing an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like motif and two follistatin domains. It has been shown to be overexpressed in prostate and brain tissues and it has been suggested that this is an androgen-regulated gene exhibiting antiproliferative effects in prostate cancer cells.

Methylation of the gene ESR1 (NM_(—)000125), encoding the estrogen receptor has been linked to several cancer types including lung, oesophageal, brain and colorectal. The estrogen receptor (ESR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor composed of several domains important for hormone binding, DNA binding, and activation of transcription.

The PCAF (NM_(—)003884) gene encodes the p300/CBP-Associated Factor (PCAF). CBP and p300 are large nuclear proteins that bind to many sequence-specific factors involved in cell growth and/or differentiation. The p300/CBP associated factor displays in vivo binding activity with CBP and p300. The protein has histone acetyl transferase activity with core histones and nucleosome core particles, indicating that it plays a direct role in transcriptional regulation. p300/CBP associated factor also associates with NF-kappa-B p65. This protein has been shown to regulate expression of the gene p53 by acetylation of Lys320 in the C-terminal portion of p53.

The WBP11 (NM_(—)016312) gene encodes a nuclear protein, which co-localises with mRNA splicing factors and intermediate filament-containing perinuclear networks. It contains two proline-rich regions that bind to the WW domain of Npw38, a nuclear protein, and thus this protein is also called Npw38-binding protein NpwBP.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides methods and nucleic acids for predicting the response of a patient with a cell proliferative disorder of the breast tissues to endocrine treatment. Using the methods and nucleic acids described herein, statistically significant models of patient responsiveness to said treatment regimen can be developed and utilised to assist patients and clinicians in determining treatment options. The described method is to be used to assess the suitability of endocrine treatment as a therapy for patients suffering from a cell proliferative disorder of the breast tissues. Thus, the present invention will be seen to reduce the problems associated with present treatment response prediction methods.

Using the methods and nucleic acids as described herein, patient responsiveness can be evaluated before or during endocrine treatment for a cell proliferative disorder of the breast tissues, in order to provide critical information to the patient and clinician as to the risks, burdens, and benefits associated endocrine treatment. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the methods and nucleic acids exemplified herein can serve to improve a patient's quality of life and odds of treatment success by allowing both patient and clinician a more accurate assessment of the patient's treatment options.

The aim of the invention is most preferably achieved by means of the analysis of the methylation patterns of one or a combination of genes taken from the group taken from the group xxSTMN1, SFN, S100A2, TGFBR2, TP53, PTGS2, FGFR1, SYK, PITX2, GRIN2D, PSA, CGA, CYP2D6, MSMB, COX7A2L, VTN, PRKCD, ONECUT2, WBP11, CYP2D6, DAG1, ERBB2, S100A2, TFF1, TP53, TMEFF2, ESR1, SYK, RASSF1, PSAT1, CGA and PCAF (see Table 1) and/or their regulatory regions. The invention is characterised in that the nucleic acid of one or a combination of genes taken from the group xxSTMN1, SFN, S100A2, TGFBR2, TP53, PTGS2, FGFR1, SYK, PITX2, GRIN2D, PSA, CGA, CYP2D6, MSMB, COX7A2L, VTN, PRKCD, ONECUT2, WBP11, CYP2D6, DAG1, ERBB2, S100A2, TFF1, TP53, TMEFF2, ESR1, SYK, RASSF1, PITX2, PSAT1, CGA and PCAF are contacted with a reagent or series of reagents capable of distinguishing between methylated and non methylated CpG dinucleotides within the genomic sequence of interest.

The aim of the invention may also be achieved by the analysis of the CpG methylation of one or a plurality of any subset of the group of genes STMN1, SFN, S100A2, TGFBR2, TP53, PTGS2, FGFR1, SYK, PITX2, GRIN2D, PSA, CGA, CYP2D6, MSMB, COX7A2L, VTN, PRKCD, ONECUT2, WBP11, CYP2D6, DAG1, ERBB2, S100A2, TFF1, TP53, TMEFF2, ESR1, SYK, RASSF1, PITX2, PSAT1, CGA and PCAF, in particular the following subsets are preferred:

-   -   TP53, PTGS2, FGFR1, PSA, CGA, CYP2D6 and MSMB     -   STMN1, PITX2, PSA and CGA     -   STMN1, SFN, S100A2, TGFBR2, SYK, GRIN2D, PSA, COX7A2L, VTN and         PRKCD     -   ONECUT2, WBP11, CYP2D6, DAG1, ERBB2, S100A2, TFF1, TP53, TMEFF2,         ESR1, SYK, RASSF1, PITX2, PSAT1, CGA and PCAF

The present invention makes available a method for ascertaining genetic and/or epigenetic parameters of genomic DNA. The method is for use in the improved treatment and monitoring of breast cell proliferative disorders, by enabling the accurate prediction of a patient's response to treatment with a therapy comprising one or more drugs which target the estrogen receptor pathway or are involved in estrogen metabolism, production, or secretion. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention enables the differentiation between patients who respond to said therapy and those who do not.

The method according to the invention may be used for the analysis of a wide variety of cell proliferative disorders of the breast tissues including, but not limited to, ductal carcinoma in situ, lobular carcinoma, colloid carcinoma, tubular carcinoma, medullary carcinoma, metaplastic carcinoma, intraductal carcinoma in situ, lobular carcinoma in situ and papillary carcinoma in situ.

The method according to the invention is particularly suited to the prediction of response to the aforementioned therapy in two treatment settings. In one embodiment, the method is applied to patients who receive endocrine pathway targeting treatment as secondary treatment to an initial non chemotherapeutical therapy, e.g., surgery (hereinafter referred to as the adjuvant setting) as illustrated in FIG. 1. Such a treatment is often prescribed to patients suffering from Stage 1 to 3 breast carcinomas. In this embodiment responders are defined as those who do not have a detectable relapse of the breast cancer in a specified period of time, non responders are those who relapse within said time period.

In a further preferred embodiment said method is applied to patients suffering from a relapse of breast cancer following treatment by a primary means (preferably surgery) followed by a disease free period, and wherein the endocrine pathway targeting treatment has been prescribed in response to a detection of a relapse of the carcinoma. Such a treatment is often prescribed to patients suffering from later stage carcinomas, particularly wherein metastasis has occurred. Therefore, this clinical setting shall also hereinafter be referred to as the ‘metastatic setting’. In this embodiment responders are those who enter partial or complete remission i.e. subjects whose cancer recedes to undetectable levels as opposed to those whose diseases further metastasise or remain above detectable levels. This methodology present further improvements over the state of the art in that the method may be applied to any subject, independent of the estrogen and/or progesterone receptor status. Therefore in a preferred embodiment, the subject is not required to have been tested for estrogen or progesterone receptor status.

Furthermore, the method enables the analysis of cytosine methylations and single nucleotide polymorphisms within said genes.

The object of the invention is achieved by means of the analysis of the methylation patterns of one or more of the genes STMN1, SFN, S100A2, TGFBR2, TP53, PTGS2, FGFR1, SYK, PITX2, GRIN2D, PSA, CGA, CYP2D6, MSMB, COX7A2L, VTN, PRKCD, ONECUT2, WBP11, CYP2D6, DAG1, ERBB2, S100A2, TFF1, TP53, TMEFF2, ESR1, SYK, RASSF1, PITX2, PSAT1, CGA and PCAF and/or their regulatory regions. In a particularly preferred embodiment the sequences of said genes comprise SEQ ID NOs: 27, 40, 122, 43, 131, 50, 74, 127, 135, 86, 90, 128, 129, 99, 105, 115, 121, 126, 137, 129, 125, 132, 122, 123, 131, 133, 134, 127, 130, 135, 124, 128 and 136 and sequences complementary thereto.

The object of the invention may also be achieved by analysing the methylation patterns of one or more genes taken from the following subsets of said aforementioned group of genes. In one embodiment the object of the invention is achieved by analysis of the methylation patterns of one or more genes taken from the group consisting TP53, PTGS2, FGFR1, PSA, CGA, CYP2D6 and MSMB, and wherein it is further preferred that the sequence of said genes comprise SEQ ID NOs: 68, 50, 74, 90, 91, 92 and 99. In a further embodiment the object of the invention is achieved by analysis of the methylation patterns of one or more genes taken from the group consisting STMN1, PITX2, PSA and CGA, and wherein it is further preferred that the sequence of said genes comprise SEQ ID NOs: 27, 83, 90 and 91. The object of the invention may also be achieved by analysis of the methylation patterns of one or more genes taken from the group consisting of STMN1, SFN, S100A2, TGFBR2, SYK, GRIN2D, PSA, COX7A2L, VTN and PRKCD, and wherein it is further preferred that the sequence of said genes comprise SEQ ID NOs: 27, 40, 41, 43, 78, 86, 90, 105, 115, 121. It is also an embodiment of the invention that the object is achieved by analysis of the methylation patterns of one or more genes taken from the group consisting ONECUT2, WBP11, CYP2D6, DAG1, ERBB2, S100A2, TFF1, TP53, TMEFF2, ESR1, SYK, RASSF1, PITX2, PSAT1, CGA and PCAF, and wherein it is further preferred that the sequence of said genes comprise SEQ ID NOs: 126, 137, 129, 125, 132, 122, 123, 131, 133, 134, 127, 130, 135, 124, 128 and 136.

Wherein the patient receives the treatment as an adjuvant therapy it is preferred that said genes are selected from the group consisting of TP53, PTGS2, P1TX2, CYP2D6, MSMB, WBP11, TMEFF2, ESR1, PITX2 and PCAF, and wherein it is further preferred that the sequence of said genes comprise SEQ ID NOs: 131, 50, 135, 129, 99, 137, 133, 134, 135 and 136.

Also preferred are the following subsets of this group of genes:

-   -   TP53, PTGS2, CYP2D6 and MSMB, wherein it is further preferred         that the sequence of said genes comprise SEQ ID NOs: 68, 50, 92         and 99;     -   PITX2, wherein it is further preferred that the sequence of said         gene comprises SEQ ID NO: 83;     -   WBP11, TMEFF2, ERBB2, ESR1, PITX2 and PCAF, wherein it is         further preferred that the sequence of said genes comprise SEQ         ID NOs: 137, 132, 133, 134, 135 and 136;         wherein the patient receives the treatment in response in a         metastatic setting it is preferred that said genes are selected         from the group consisting of STMN1, SFN, S100A2, TGFBR2, FGFR1,         SYK, GRIN2D, PSA, CGA, COX7A2L, VTN, PRKCD, ONECUT2, CYP2D6,         DAG1, ERBB2, S100A2, TFF1, TP53, SYK, RASSF1, PSAT1 and CGA, and         wherein it is further preferred that the sequence of said genes         comprise SEQ ID NOs: 27, 40, 122, 43, 74, 127, 86, 90, 128, 105,         115, 121, 126, 129, 125, 132, 122, 123, 131, 127, 130, 124 and         128.

Also preferred are the following subsets of this group of genes:

-   -   FGFR1, PSA and CGA, wherein it is further preferred that the         sequence of said genes comprise SEQ ID NOs: 74, 90 and 91;     -   STMN1, PSA and CGA, wherein it is further preferred that the         sequence of said genes comprise SEQ ID NOs: 27, 90 and 91;     -   STMN1, SFN, S100A2, TGFBR2, SYK, GRIN2D, PSA, COX7A2L, VTN and         PRKCD, wherein it is further preferred that the sequence of said         genes comprise SEQ ID NOs: 27, 40, 41, 43, 78, 86, 90, 105, 115,         121; and     -   ONECUT2, CYP2D6, DAG1, S100A2, TFF1, TP53, SYK, RASSF1, PSAT1         and CGA, wherein it is further preferred that the sequence of         said genes comprise SEQ ID NOs: 126, 129, 125, 122, 123, 131,         127, 130, 124 and 128.

In a preferred embodiment said method is achieved by contacting said nucleic acid sequences in a biological sample obtained from a subject with at least one reagent or a series of reagents, wherein said reagent or series of reagents, distinguishes between methylated and non methylated CpG dinucleotides within the target nucleic acid.

In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises the following steps: In the first step of the method the genomic DNA sample must be isolated from sources such as cells or cellular components which contain DNA, sources of DNA comprising, for example, cell lines, histological slides, biopsies, tissue embedded in paraffin, breast tissues, blood, plasma, lymphatic fluid, lymphatic tissue, duct cells, ductal lavage fluid, nipple aspiration fluid, bone marrow and combinations thereof. Extraction may be by means that are standard to one skilled in the art, these include the use of detergent lysates, sonification and vortexing with glass beads. Once the nucleic acids have been extracted the genomic double stranded DNA is used in the analysis.

In a preferred embodiment the DNA may be cleaved prior to the next step of the method, this may be by any means standard in the state of the art, in particular, but not limited to, with restriction endonucleases.

In the second step of the method, the genomic DNA sample is treated in such a manner that cytosine bases which are unmethylated at the 5′-position are converted to uracil, thymine, or another base which is dissimilar to cytosine in terms of hybridisation behaviour. This will be understood as ‘pretreatment’ hereinafter.

The above described treatment of genomic DNA is preferably carried out with bisulfite (sulfite, disulfite) and subsequent alkaline hydrolysis which results in a conversion of non-methylated cytosine nucleobases to uracil or to another base which is dissimilar to cytosine in terms of base pairing behaviour. If bisulfite solution is used for the reaction, then an addition takes place at the non-methylated cytosine bases. Moreover, a denaturating reagent or solvent as well as a radical interceptor must be present. A subsequent alkaline hydrolysis then gives rise to the conversion of non-methylated cytosine nucleobases to uracil. The converted DNA is then used for the detection of methylated cytosines.

Fragments of the pretreated DNA are amplified, using sets of primer oligonucleotides, and a preferably heat-stable, polymerase. Because of statistical and practical considerations, preferably more than six different fragments having a length of 100-2000 base pairs are amplified. The amplification of several DNA segments can be carried out simultaneously in one and the same reaction vessel. Usually, the amplification is carried out by means of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

The design of such primers is obvious to one skilled in the art. These should include at least two oligonucleotides whose sequences are each reverse complementary or identical to an at least 18 base-pair long segment of the following base sequences specified in the appendix: SEQ ID NO 299, 300, 325, 326, 327, 328, 331, 332, 345, 346, 381, 382, 393, 394, 401, 402, 411, 412, 417, 418, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 443, 444, 455, 456, 475, 476, 487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 573, 574, 599, 600, 601, 602, 605, 606, 619, 620, 655, 656, 667, 668, 675, 676, 685, 686, 691, 692, 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 717, 718, 729, 730, 749, 750, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 790, 791, 792, 793 and 794. Said primer oligonucleotides are preferably characterised in that they do not contain any CpG dinucleotides. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method, the sequence of said primer oligonucleotides are designed so as to selectively anneal to and amplify, only the breast cell specific DNA of interest, thereby minimising the amplification of background or non relevant DNA. In the context of the present invention, background DNA is taken to mean genomic DNA which does not have a relevant tissue specific methylation pattern, in this case, the relevant tissue being breast tissues.

According to the present invention, it is preferred that at least one primer oligonucleotide is bound to a solid phase during amplification. The different oligonucleotide and/or PNA-oligomer sequences can be arranged on a plane solid phase in the form of a rectangular or hexagonal lattice, the solid phase surface preferably being composed of silicon, glass, polystyrene, aluminium, steel, iron, copper, nickel, silver, or gold, it being possible for other materials such as nitrocellulose or plastics to be used as well.

The fragments obtained by means of the amplification may carry a directly or indirectly detectable label. Preferred are labels in the form of fluorescence labels, radionuclides, or detachable molecule fragments having a typical mass which can be detected in a mass spectrometer, it being preferred that the fragments that are produced have a single positive or negative net charge for better detectability in the mass spectrometer. The detection may be carried out and visualised by means of matrix assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry (MALDI) or using electron spray mass spectrometry (ESI).

In the next step the nucleic acid amplificates are analysed in order to determine the methylation status of the genomic DNA prior to treatment.

The post treatment analysis of the nucleic acids may be carried out using alternative methods. Several methods for the methylation status specific analysis of the treated nucleic acids are described below, other alternative methods will be obvious to one skilled in the art.

The analysis may be carried out during the amplification step of the method. In one such embodiment, the methylation status of preselected CpG positions within the genes xxSTMN1, SFN, S100A2, TGFBR2, TP53, PTGS2, FGFR1, SYK, PITX2, GRIN2D, PSA, CGA, CYP2D6, MSMB, COX7A2L, VTN, PRKCD, ONECUT2, WBP11, CYP2D6, DAG1, ERBB2, S100A2, TFF1, TP53, TMEFF2, ESR1, SYK, RASSF1, PITX2, PSAT1, CGA and PCAF and/or their regulatory regions may be detected by use of methylation specific primer oligonucleotides. The term “MSP” (Methylation-specific PCR) refers to the art-recognised methylation assay described by Herman et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:9821-9826, 1996, and also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,146 and No. 6,265,171. The use of methylation status specific primers for the amplification of bisulphite treated DNA allows the differentiation between methylated and unmethylated nucleic acids. MSP primers pairs contain at least one primer which hybridises to a bisulphite treated CpG dinucleotide. Therefore the sequence of said primers comprises at least one CG, TG or CA dinucleotide. MSP primers specific for non methylated DNA contain a ‘T’ at the 3′ position of the C position in the CpG. According to the present invention, it is therefore preferred that the base sequence of said primers is required to comprise a sequence having a length of at least 9 nucleotides which hybridises to a pretreated nucleic acid sequence according to SEQ ID NOs.: 299, 300, 325, 326, 327, 328, 331, 332, 345, 346, 381, 382, 393, 394, 401, 402, 411, 412, 417, 418, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 443, 444, 455, 456, 475, 476, 487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 573, 574, 599, 600, 601, 602, 605, 606, 619, 620, 655, 656, 667, 668, 675, 676, 685, 686, 691, 692, 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 717, 718, 729, 730, 749, 750, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 790, 791, 792, 793 and 794 and sequences complementary thereto wherein the base sequence of said oligomers comprises at least one CG, TG or CA dinucleotide.

In one embodiment of the method the methylation status of the CpG positions may be determined by means of hybridisation analysis. In this embodiment of the method the amplificates obtained in the second step of the method are hybridised to an array or a set of oligonucleotides and/or PNA probes. In this context, the hybridisation takes place in the manner described as follows. The set of probes used during the hybridisation is preferably composed of at least 4 oligonucleotides or PNA-oligomers. In the process, the amplificates serve as probes which hybridise to oligonucleotides previously bonded to a solid phase. The non-hybridised fragments are subsequently removed. Said oligonucleotides contain at least one base sequence having a length of 10 nucleotides which is reverse complementary or identical to a segment of the base sequences specified in the appendix, the segment containing at least one CpG or TpG dinucleotide. In a further preferred embodiment the cytosine of the CpG dinucleotide, or in the case of TpG, the thiamine, is the 5^(th) to 9^(th) nucleotide from the 5′-end of the 10-mer. One oligonucleotide exists for each CpG or TpG dinucleotide.

The non-hybridised amplificates are then removed. In the final step of the method, the hybridised amplificates are detected. In this context, it is preferred that labels attached to the amplificates are identifiable at each position of the solid phase at which an oligonucleotide sequence is located.

In a further embodiment of the method the methylation status of the CpG positions may be determined by means of oligonucleotide probes that are hybridised to the treated DNA concurrently with the PCR amplification primers (wherein said primers may either be methylation specific or standard).

A particularly preferred embodiment of this method is the use of fluorescence-based Real Time Quantitative PCR (Heid et al., Genome Res. 6:986-994, 1996) employing a dual-labelled fluorescent oligonucleotide probe (TaqMan™ PCR, using an ABI Prism 7700 Sequence Detection System, Perkin Elmer Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.). The TaqMan™ PCR reaction employs the use of a nonextendible interrogating oligonucleotide, called a TaqMan™ probe, which is designed to hybridise to a GpC-rich sequence located between the forward and reverse amplification primers. The TaqMan™ probe further comprises a fluorescent “reporter moiety” and a “quencher moiety” covalently bound to linker moieties (e.g., phosphoramidites) attached to the nucleotides of the TaqMan™ oligonucleotide. For analysis of methylation within nucleic acids subsequent to bisulphite treatment it is required that the probe be methylation specific, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,393, (hereby incorporated by reference) also known as the Methyl Light assay. Variations on the TaqMan™ detection methodology that are also suitable for use with the described invention include the use of dual probe technology (Lightcycler™) or fluorescent amplification primers (Sunrise™ technology). Both these techniques may be adapted in a manner suitable for use with bisulphite treated DNA, and moreover for methylation analysis within CpG dinucleotides.

A further suitable method for the use of probe oligonucleotides for the assessment of methylation by analysis of bisulphite treated nucleic acids is the use of blocker oligonucleotides. The use of such oligonucleotides has been described in BioTechniques 23(4), 1997, 714-720 D. Yu, M. Mukai, Q. Liu, C. Steinman. Blocking probe oligonucleotides are hybridised to the bisulphite treated nucleic acid concurrently with the PCR primers. PCR amplification of the nucleic acid is terminated at the 5′ position of the blocking probe, thereby amplification of a nucleic acid is suppressed wherein the complementary sequence to the blocking probe is present. The probes may be designed to hybridise to the bisulphite treated nucleic acid in a methylation status specific manner. For example, for detection of methylated nucleic acids within a population of unmethylated nucleic acids suppression of the amplification of nucleic acids which are unmethylated at the position in question would be carried out by the use of blocking probes comprising a ‘CG’ at the position in question, as opposed to a ‘CA’.

For PCR methods using blocker oligonucleotides, efficient disruption of polymerase-mediated amplification requires that blocker oligonucleotides not be elongated by the polymerase. Preferably, this is achieved through the use of blockers that are 3′-deoxyoligonucleotides, or oligonucleotides derivatised at the 3′ position with other than a “free” hydroxyl group. For example, 3′-O-acetyl oligonucleotides are representative of a preferred class of blocker molecule.

Additionally, polymerase-mediated decomposition of the blocker oligonucleotides should be precluded. Preferably, such preclusion comprises either use of a polymerase lacking 5′-3′ exonuclease activity, or use of modified blocker oligonucleotides having, for example, thioate bridges at the 5′-terminii thereof that render the blocker molecule nuclease-resistant. Particular applications may not require such 5′ modifications of the blocker. For example, if the blocker- and primer-binding sites overlap, thereby precluding binding of the primer (e.g., with excess blocker), degradation of the blocker oligonucleotide will be substantially precluded. This is because the polymerase will not extend the primer toward, and through (in the 5′-3′ direction) the blocker-a process that normally results in degradation of the hybridised blocker oligonucleotide.

A particularly preferred blocker/PCR embodiment, for purposes of the present invention and as implemented herein, comprises the use of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligomers as blocking oligonucleotides. Such PNA blocker oligomers are ideally suited, because they are neither decomposed nor extended by the polymerase.

Preferably, therefore, the base sequence of said blocking oligonucleotides is required to comprise a sequence having a length of at least 9 nucleotides which hybridises to a pretreated nucleic acid sequence according to one of SEQ ID NOs: 299, 300, 325, 326, 327, 328, 331, 332, 345, 346, 381, 382, 393, 394, 401, 402, 411, 412, 417, 418, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 443, 444, 455, 456, 475, 476, 487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 573, 574, 599, 600, 601, 602, 605, 606, 619, 620, 655, 656, 667, 668, 675, 676, 685, 686, 691, 692, 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 717, 718, 729, 730, 749, 750, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 790, 791, 792, 793 and 794 and sequences complementary thereto, wherein the base sequence of said oligonucleotides comprises at least one CpG, TpG or CpA dinucleotide.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method the determination of the methylation status of the CpG positions is carried out by the use of template directed oligonucleotide extension, such as MS SNuPE as described by Gonzalgo and Jones (Nucleic Acids Res. 25:2529-2531).

In a further embodiment of the method the determination of the methylation status of the CpG positions is enabled by sequencing and subsequent sequence analysis of the amplificate generated in the second step of the method (Sanger F., et al., 1977 PNAS USA 74: 5463-5467).

The method according to the invention may be enabled by any combination of the above means. In a particularly preferred mode of the invention the use of real time detection probes is concurrently combined with MSP and/or blocker oligonucleotides.

A further embodiment of the invention is a method for the analysis of the methylation status of genomic DNA without the need for pretreatment. In the first and second steps of the method the genomic DNA sample must be obtained and isolated from tissue or cellular sources. Such sources may include cell lines, histological slides, body fluids, or tissue embedded in paraffin. Extraction may be by means that are standard to one skilled in the art, these include the use of detergent lysates, sonification and vortexing with glass beads. Once the nucleic acids have been extracted the genomic double stranded DNA is used in the analysis.

In a preferred embodiment the DNA may be cleaved prior to the treatment, this may be by any means standard in the state of the art, in particular with restriction endonucleases. In the third step, the DNA is then digested with one or more methylation sensitive restriction enzymes. The digestion is carried out such that hydrolysis of the DNA at the restriction site is informative of the methylation status of a specific CpG dinucleotide.

In a preferred embodiment the restriction fragments are amplified. In a further preferred embodiment this is carried out using the polymerase chain reaction.

In the final step the amplificates are detected. The detection may be by any means standard in the art, for example, but not limited to, gel electrophoresis analysis, hybridisation analysis, incorporation of detectable tags within the PCR products, DNA array analysis, MALDI or ESI analysis.

The aforementioned method is preferably used for ascertaining genetic and/or epigenetic parameters of genomic DNA.

In order to enable this method, the invention further provides the modified DNA of one or a combination of genes taken from the group STMN1, SFN, S100A2, TGFBR2, TP53, PTGS2, FGFR1, SYK, PITX2, GRIN2D, PSA, CGA, CYP2D6, MSMB, COX7A2L, VTN, PRKCD, ONECUT2, WBP11, CYP2D6, DAG1, ERBB2, S100A2, TFF1, TP53, TMEFF2, ESR1, SYK, RASSF1, PITX2, PSAT1, CGA and PCAF as well as oligonucleotides and/or PNA-oligomers for detecting cytosine methylations within said genes. The present invention is based on the discovery that genetic and epigenetic parameters and, in particular, the cytosine methylation patterns of said genomic DNAs are particularly suitable for improved treatment and monitoring of breast cell proliferative disorders.

The nucleic acids according to the present invention can be used for the analysis of genetic and/or epigenetic parameters of genomic DNA.

This objective according to the present invention is achieved using a nucleic acid containing a sequence of at least 18 bases in length of the pretreated genomic DNA according to one of SEQ ID NOs: 299, 300, 325, 326, 327, 328, 331, 332, 345, 346, 381, 382, 393, 394, 401, 402, 411, 412, 417, 418, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 443, 444, 455, 456, 475, 476, 487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 573, 574, 599, 600, 601, 602, 605, 606, 619, 620, 655, 656, 667, 668, 675, 676, 685, 686, 691, 692, 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 717, 718, 729, 730, 749, 750, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 790, 791, 792, 793 and 794 and sequences complementary thereto.

The objective of the disclosed invention may also be achieved by using a nucleic acid containing a sequence of at least 18 bases in length of the pretreated genomic DNA according to one of SEQ ID NOs: 345, 346, 381, 382, 393, 394, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 443, 444, 619, 620, 655, 656, 667, 668, 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 717 and 718 and sequences complementary thereto.

The objective of the disclosed invention may also be achieved by using a nucleic acid containing a sequence of at least 18 bases in length of the pretreated genomic DNA according to one of SEQ ID NOs: 299, 300, 411, 412, 425, 426, 427, 428, 573, 574, 685, 686, 699, 700, 701 and 702 and sequences complementary thereto.

The objective of the disclosed invention may also be achieved by using a nucleic acid containing a sequence of at least 18 bases in length of the pretreated genomic DNA according to one of SEQ ID NOs: 299, 300, 325, 326, 327, 328, 331, 332, 401, 402, 417, 418, 425, 426, 455, 456, 475, 476, 487, 488, 573, 574, 599, 600, 601, 602, 605, 606, 675, 676, 691, 692, 699, 700, 729, 730, 749, 750, 761, 762 and sequences complementary thereto.

The objective of the disclosed invention may also be achieved by using a nucleic acid containing a sequence of at least 18 bases in length of the pretreated genomic DNA according to one of SEQ ID NOs: 489, 490, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 763, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 790, 791, 792, 793 and 794 and sequences complementary thereto.

The modified nucleic acids could heretofore not be connected with the ascertainment of disease relevant genetic and epigenetic parameters.

The object of the present invention is further achieved by an oligonucleotide or oligomer for the analysis of pretreated DNA, for detecting the genomic cytosine methylation state, said oligonucleotide containing at least one base sequence having a length of at least 10 nucleotides which hybridises to a pretreated genomic DNA according to SEQ ID NOs: 299, 300, 325, 326, 327, 328, 331, 332, 345, 346, 381, 382, 393, 394, 401, 402, 411, 412, 417, 418, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 443, 444, 455, 456, 475, 476, 487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 573, 574, 599, 600, 601, 602, 605, 606, 619, 620, 655, 656, 667, 668, 675, 676, 685, 686, 691, 692, 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 717, 718, 729, 730, 749, 750, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 790, 791, 792, 793 and 794. The oligomer probes according to the present invention constitute important and effective tools which, for the first time, make it possible to ascertain specific genetic and epigenetic parameters during the analysis of biological samples for features associated with a patient's response to endocrine treatment. Said oligonucleotides allow the improved treatment and monitoring of breast cell proliferative disorders. The base sequence of the oligomers preferably contains at least one CpG or TpG dinucleotide. The probes may also exist in the form of a PNA (peptide nucleic acid) which has particularly preferred pairing properties. Particularly preferred are oligonucleotides according to the present invention in which the cytosine of the CpG dinucleotide is within the middle third of said oligonucleotide e.g. the 5^(th)-9^(th) nucleotide from the 5′-end of a 13-mer oligonucleotide; or in the case of PNA-oligomers, it is preferred for the cytosine of the CpG dinucleotide to be the 4^(th)-6^(th) nucleotide from the 5′-end of the 9-mer.

The oligomers according to the present invention are normally used in so called “sets” which contain at least two oligomers and up to one oligomer for each of the CpG dinucleotides within SEQ ID NOs: 299, 300, 325, 326, 327, 328, 331, 332, 345, 346, 381, 382, 393, 394, 401, 402, 411, 412, 417, 418, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 443, 444, 455, 456, 475, 476, 487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 573, 574, 599, 600, 601, 602, 605, 606, 619, 620, 655, 656, 667, 668, 675, 676, 685, 686, 691, 692, 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 717, 718, 729, 730, 749, 750, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 790, 791, 792, 793 and 794.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method, the oligomers according to SEQ ID NOs: 1733-1736, 1967-1994, 2003-2024, 2031-2034, 2045-2134 are used for predicting a subject's response to endocrine treatment in an metastatic setting.

In a further embodiment of the method the oligomers according to SEQ ID NOs: 2011, 2012, 2017-2024 and 2031-2034 are used for predicting a subject's response to endocrine treatment in an metastatic setting.

In a further embodiment of the method the oligomers according to SEQ ID NOs: 2003-2024 are used for predicting a subject's response to endocrine treatment in an metastatic setting.

In a further embodiment of the method the oligomers according to SEQ ID NOs: 2003-2020 and 2045-2112 are used for predicting a subject's response to endocrine treatment in an metastatic setting.

In a further embodiment of the method the oligomers according to SEQ ID NOs: 1733-1736, 1967-1994, 2011-2025, 2045-2052, 2069-2078 and 2127-2134 are used for predicting a subject's response to endocrine treatment in an metastatic setting.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method the oligomers according to SEQ ID NOs: 1691-1692, 1925-1932, 1941-1954, 1965-1966, 1995-2002, 2025-2030, 2035-2044 and 2135-2142 are used for predicting a subject's response to endocrine treatment in an adjuvant setting.

In a further embodiment of the method the oligomers according to SEQ ID NOs: 2035-2044 are used for predicting a subject's response to endocrine treatment in an adjuvant setting.

In a further embodiment of the method the oligomers according to SEQ ID NOs: 2025-2030 are used for predicting a subject's response to endocrine treatment in an adjuvant setting.

In a further embodiment of the method the oligomers according to SEQ ID NOs: 1691-1692, 1925-1932, 1941-1954, 1965-1966, 1995-2002 and 2135-2142 are used for predicting a subject's response to endocrine treatment in an adjuvant setting.

In the case of the sets of oligonucleotides according to the present invention, it is preferred that at least one oligonucleotide is bound to a solid phase. It is further preferred that all the oligonucleotides of one set are bound to a solid phase.

The present invention further relates to a set of at least 2 n (oligonucleotides and/or PNA-oligomers) used for detecting the cytosine methylation state of genomic DNA, by analysis of said sequence or treated versions of said sequence (of the genes STMN1, SFN, S100A2, TGFBR2, TP53, PTGS2, FGFR1, SYK, PITX2, GRIN2D, PSA, CGA, CYP2D6, MSMB, COX7A2L, VTN, PRKCD, ONECUT2, WBP11, CYP2D6, DAG1, ERBB2, S100A2, TFF1, TP53, TMEFF2, ESR1, SYK, RASSF1, PITX2, PSAT1, CGA and PCAF, as detailed in the sequence listing and Table 1) and sequences complementary thereto). These probes enable improved treatment and monitoring of breast cell proliferative disorders.

The set of oligomers may also be used for detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by analysis of said sequence or treated versions of said sequence of the genes STMN1, SFN, S100A2, TGFBR2, TP53, PTGS2, FGFR1, SYK, PITX2, GRIN2D, PSA, CGA, CYP2D6, MSMB, COX7A2L, VTN, PRKCD, ONECUT2, WBP11, CYP2D6, DAG1, ERBB2, S100A2, TFF1, TP53, TMEFF2, ESR1, SYK, RASSF1, PITX2, PSAT1, CGA and PCAF.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the method according to the invention will be improved and supplemented by the incorporation of markers and clinical indicators known in the state of the art and currently used as predictive of the outcome of therapies which target endocrine or endocrine associated pathways. More preferably said markers include node status, age, menopausal status, grade, estrogen and progesterone receptors.

The genes that form the basis of the present invention may be used to form a “gene panel”, i.e., a collection comprising the particular genetic sequences of the present invention and/or their respective informative methylation sites. The formation of gene panels allows for a quick and specific analysis of specific aspects of breast cancer treatment. The gene panel(s) as described and employed in this invention can be used with surprisingly high efficiency for the treatment of breast cell proliferative disorders by prediction of the outcome of treatment with a therapy comprising one or more drugs which target the estrogen receptor pathway or are involved in estrogen metabolism, production, or secretion. The analysis of each gene of the panel contributes to the evaluation of patient responsiveness, however, in a less preferred embodiment the patient evaluation may be achieved by analysis of only a single gene. The analysis of a single member of the ‘gene panel’ would enable a cheap but less accurate means of evaluating patient responsiveness, the analysis of multiple members of the panel would provide a rather more expensive means of carrying out the method, but with a higher accuracy (the technically preferred solution).

The efficiency of the method according to the invention is improved when applied to patients who have not been treated with chemotherapy. Accordingly, it is a particularly preferred embodiment of the method wherein the method is used for the assessment of subjects who have not undergone chemotherapy.

According to the present invention, it is preferred that an arrangement of different oligonucleotides and/or PNA-oligomers (a so-called “array”) made available by the present invention is present in a manner that it is likewise bound to a solid phase. This array of different oligonucleotide- and/or PNA-oligomer sequences can be characterised in that it is arranged on the solid phase in the form of a rectangular or hexagonal lattice. The solid phase surface is preferably composed of silicon, glass, polystyrene, aluminium, steel, iron, copper, nickel, silver, or gold. However, nitrocellulose as well as plastics such as nylon which can exist in the form of pellets or also as resin matrices are suitable alternatives.

Therefore, a further subject matter of the present invention is a method for manufacturing an array fixed to a carrier material for the improved treatment and monitoring of breast cell proliferative disorders. In said method at least one oligomer according to the present invention is coupled to a solid phase. Methods for manufacturing such arrays are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,305 by means of solid-phase chemistry and photolabile protecting groups.

A further subject matter of the present invention relates to a DNA chip for the improved treatment and monitoring of breast cell proliferative disorders. The DNA chip contains at least one nucleic acid according to the present invention. DNA chips are known, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,832.

Moreover, a subject matter of the present invention is a kit which may be composed, for example, of a bisulfite-containing reagent, a set of primer oligonucleotides containing at least two oligonucleotides whose sequences in each case correspond to or are complementary to a 18 base long segment of the base sequences specified in SEQ ID NOs: 299, 300, 325, 326, 327, 328, 331, 332, 345, 346, 381, 382, 393, 394, 401, 402, 411, 412, 417, 418, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 443, 444, 455, 456, 475, 476, 487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 573, 574, 599, 600, 601, 602, 605, 606, 619, 620, 655, 656, 667, 668, 675, 676, 685, 686, 691, 692, 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 717, 718, 729, 730, 749, 750, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 790, 791, 792, 793 and 794 and/or PNA-oligomers as well as instructions for carrying out and evaluating the described method.

In a further preferred embodiment said kit may further comprise standard reagents for performing a CpG position specific methylation analysis wherein said analysis comprises one or more of the following techniques: MS-SNuPE, MSP, Methyl light, Heavy Methyl, and nucleic acid sequencing. However, a kit along the lines of the present invention can also contain only part of the aforementioned components.

Typical reagents (e.g., as might be found in a typical MethyLight®-based kit) for MethyLight® analysis may include, but are not limited to: PCR primers for specific gene (or methylation-altered DNA sequence or CpG island); TaqMan® probes; optimised PCR buffers and deoxynucleotides; and Taq polymerase.

Typical reagents (e.g., as might be found in a typical Ms-SNuPE-based kit) for Ms-SNuPE analysis may include, but are not limited to: PCR primers for specific gene (or methylation-altered DNA sequence or CpG island); optimised PCR buffers and deoxynucleotides; gel extraction kit; positive control primers; Ms-SNuPE primers for specific gene; reaction buffer (for the Ms-SNuPE reaction); and radioactive nucleotides. Additionally, bisulfite conversion reagents may include: DNA denaturation buffer; sulfonation buffer; DNA recovery regents or kit (e.g., precipitation, ultrafiltration, affinity column); desulfonation buffer; and DNA recovery components.

Typical reagents (e.g., as might be found in a typical MSP-based kit) for MSP analysis may include, but are not limited to: methylated and unmethylated PCR primers for specific gene (or methylation-altered DNA sequence or CpG island), optimized PCR buffers and deoxynucleotides, and specific probes.

The oligomers according to the present invention or arrays thereof as well as a kit according to the present invention are intended to be used for the improved treatment and monitoring of breast cell proliferative disorders. According to the present invention, the method is preferably used for the analysis of important genetic and/or epigenetic parameters within genomic DNA, in particular for use in improved treatment and monitoring of breast cell proliferative disorders.

The methods according to the present invention are used, for improved treatment and monitoring of breast cell proliferative disorder by enabling more informed treatment regimens.

The present invention moreover relates to the diagnosis and/or prognosis of events which are disadvantageous or relevant to patients or individuals in which important genetic and/or epigenetic parameters within genomic DNA, said parameters obtained by means of the present invention may be compared to another set of genetic and/or epigenetic parameters, the differences serving as the basis for the diagnosis and/or prognosis of events which are disadvantageous or relevant to patients or individuals.

In the context of the present invention the term “hybridisation” is to be understood as a bond of an oligonucleotide to a completely complementary sequence along the lines of the Watson-Crick base pairings in the sample DNA, forming a duplex structure.

In the context of the present invention, “genetic parameters” are mutations and polymorphisms of genomic DNA and sequences further required for their regulation. To be designated as mutations are, in particular, insertions, deletions, point mutations, inversions and polymorphisms and, particularly preferred, SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms).

In the context of the present invention the term “methylation state” is taken to mean the degree of methylation present in a nucleic acid of interest, this may be expressed in absolute or relative terms i.e. as a percentage or other numerical value or by comparison to another tissue and therein described as hypermethylated, hypomethylated or as having significantly similar or identical methylation status.

In the context of the present invention the term “regulatory region” of a gene is taken to mean nucleotide sequences which affect the expression of a gene. Said regulatory regions may be located within, proximal or distal to said gene. Said regulatory regions include but are not limited to constitutive promoters, tissue-specific promoters, development-specific promoters, inducible promoters and the like. Promoter regulatory elements may also include certain enhancer sequence elements that control transcriptional or translational efficiency of the gene.

In the context of the present invention the term “chemotherapy” is taken to mean the use of drugs or chemical substances to treat cancer. This definition excludes radiation therapy (treatment with high energy rays or particles), hormone therapy (treatment with hormones or hormone analogues (synthetic substitutes) and surgical treatment.

In the context of the present invention, “epigenetic parameters” are, in particular, cytosine methylations and further modifications of DNA bases of genomic DNA and sequences further required for their regulation. Further epigenetic parameters include, for example, the acetylation of histones which, cannot be directly analysed using the described method but which, in turn, correlates with the DNA methylation.

In the context of the present invention the term “adjuvant treatment” is taken to mean a therapy of a cancer patient immediately following an initial non chemotherapeutical therapy, e.g., surgery. In general, the purpose of an adjuvant therapy is to provide a significantly smaller risk of recurrences compared without the adjuvant therapy.

In the context of the present invention the term “estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positive” is taken to mean cells that express on their surface receptors that are susceptible to the binding of estrogens and/or progesterones.

In the following, the present invention will be explained in greater detail on the basis of the sequences, figures and examples without being limited thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a preferred application of the method according to the invention. The X axis shows the tumour(s) mass, wherein the line ‘3’ shows the limit of detectability. The Y-axis shows time. Accordingly said figure illustrates a simplified model of endocrine treatment of an Stage 1-3 breast tumour wherein primary treatment was surgery (at point 1), followed by adjuvant therapy with Tamoxifen. In a first scenario a responder to treatment (4) is shown as remaining below the limit of detectability for the duration of the observation. A non responder to the treatment (5) has a period of disease free survival (2) followed by relapse when the carcinoma mass reaches the level of detectability.

FIG. 2 shows another preferred application of the method according to the invention. The X axis shows the tumour(s) mass, wherein the line ‘3’ shows the limit of detectability. The Y-axis shows time. Accordingly said figure illustrates a simplified model of Endocrine treatment of an late stage breast tumour wherein primary treatment was surgery (at point 1), followed by relapse which is treated by Tamoxifen (2). In a first scenario a responder to treatment (4) is shown as remaining below the limit of detectability for the duration of the observation. A non responder to the treatment (5) does not recover from the relapse.

FIG. 3 shows the methylation analysis of CpG islands according to Example 1. CpG islands per gene were grouped and their correlation with objective response determined by Hotelling's T² statistics. Black dots indicate the P-value of the indicated gene. The 20 most informative genes, ranked from left to right with increasing P-value, are shown. The top dotted line marks the uncorrected significance value (P<0.05). The lower dotted line marks significance after false discovery rate correction of 25%. All genes with a P-value smaller or equal to the gene with the largest P-value that is below the lower line (in this case COX7A2L) are considered significant. The FDR correction chosen guarantees that the identified genes are with 75% chance true discoveries.

FIG. 4 shows the raw CpG dinucleotide methylation data of the 10 genes that significantly correlated with the overall response rate as determined in FIG. 3 (Example 1). Tumours from objective responders (CR+PR) are show on the left; tumours from patients with progressive disease (PD) are shown on the right. The shades of grey represents the relative distance of the CpG dinucleotide methylation status from the mean value. CpG dinucleotides are grouped per gene. The indicated genes are ordered from top to bottom with increasing significance. Light grey represents a hypomethylated CpG dinucleotide while darker grey indicates a hypermethylated CpG dinucleotide. Methylation data are centred and normalised to one standard deviation for every individual CpG dinucleotide.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a ranked matrix of data obtained according to Example 3 according to CpG methylation differences between the two classes of tissues (responder and non-responder to endocrine treatment in a metastatic setting), using an algorithm. The Figures are shown in greyscale, wherein the most significant CpG positions are at the bottom of the matrix with significance decreasing towards the top. Black indicates total methylation at a given CpG position, white represents no methylation at the particular position, with degrees of methylation represented in grey, from light (low proportion of methylation) to dark (high proportion of methylation). Each row represents one specific CpG position within a gene and each column shows the methylation profile for the different CpGs for one sample. On the left side, the gene name is shown, on the right side p values for the individual CpG positions are shown. The p values are the probabilities that the observed distribution occurred by chance in the data set.

FIG. 14 shows the progression-free survival (PFS) curves of combination scores according to Example 1 (Dataset 3). PFS curves after start of tamoxifen treatment of patients are shown. They are grouped using a predictive score (χ²=14.0; 3 degrees of freedom) based on the traditional predictive markers age, dominant site of relapse, disease-free interval and ER level (A). A DNA methylation-based score (χ²=27.5; 3 degrees of freedom) is presented comprising the statistically independent predicting genes phosphoserine amino transferase (PSA-T), stathmin (STMN1), S100 protein A2 (S100A2, transforming growth factor 13 receptor II (TGFBR2), and glutamate receptor 2D (GRIN2D) (B). Survival curves were generated and significance calculated as described in Example 1. The calculated predictive scores were divided into 4 groups (q1-q4) with 50 patients each and using the 25^(th), 50^(th), and 75^(th) percentile of the values. The numbers below the X-axis represent the number of patients at risk in each group at the indicated time points of 0, 12, 24, and 36 months. Progression free survival (in percentage) is plotted on the Y-axis and time to progression (in months) is plotted on the X-axis.

FIGS. 5 to 12 show a ranked matrix of additional data obtained according to Example 1 (Dataset 1) according to CpG methylation differences between the two classes of tissues, using an algorithim. FIGS. 5, 7, 9 and 11 are shown in greyscale, wherein the most significant CpG positions are at the bottom of the matrix with significance decreasing towards the top. Black indicates total methylation at a given CpG position, white represents no methylation at the particular position, with degrees of methylation represented in grey, from light (low proportion of methylation) to dark (high proportion of methylation). Each row represents one specific CpG position within a gene and each column shows the methylation profile for the different CpGs for one sample. On the left side the gene name is shown, on the right side p values for the individual CpG positions are shown. The p values are the probabilities that the observed distribution occurred by chance in the data set. FIGS. 6, 8, 10 and 12 are true black and white copies of the original red-green versions of the preceding figures (i.e., FIGS. 5, 7, 9 and 11 respectively).

FIG. 15 shows the uncorrected p-values on a log-scale. P-values were calculated from Likelihood ratio (LR) tests from multivariate logistic regression models. Each individual genomic region of interest is represented as a point, the upper dotted line represents the cut off point for the 25% false discovery rate, the lower dotted line shows the Bonferroni corrected 5% limit.

FIG. 16 shows a ranked matrix of the best 10 amplificates of data obtained according to Example 1 (Dataset 4). P-values were calculated from Likelihood ratio (LR) tests from multivariate logistic regression models. The figure is shown in greyscale, wherein the most significant CpG positions are at the bottom of the matrix with significance decreasing towards the top. Black indicates total methylation at a given CpG position, white represents no methylation at the particular position, with degrees of methylation represented in grey, from light (low proportion of methylation) to dark (high proportion of methylation). Each row represents one specific CpG position within a gene and each column shows the methylation profile for the different CpGs for one sample. The p-values for the individual CpG positions are shown on the right side. The p-values are the probabilities that the observed distribution occurred by chance in the data set.

FIG. 17 shows the Kaplan-Meier estimated disease-free survival curves for the gene ESR1, the dotted line (lower curve) shows non-responders whereas the unbroken line (upper curve) shows responders.

FIG. 18 shows the Kaplan-Meier estimated disease-free survival curves for the gene PCAF, the dotted line (upper curve) shows non-responders whereas the unbroken line (lower curve) shows responders.

FIG. 19 shows the Kaplan-Meier estimated disease-free survival curves for the gene PITX2, the dotted line (upper curve) shows responders whereas the unbroken line (lower curve) shows non-responders.

FIG. 20 shows the Kaplan-Meier estimated disease-free survival curves for the gene TMEFF2, the dotted line (upper curve) shows non-responders whereas the unbroken line (lower curve) shows responders.

FIG. 21 shows the Kaplan-Meier estimated disease-free survival curves for the gene WBP11, the dotted line (lower curve) shows non-responders whereas the unbroken line (upper curve) shows responders.

FIG. 22 shows the Kaplan-Meier estimated disease-free survival curves for the gene ERBB2, the dotted line (lower curve) shows non-responders whereas the unbroken line (upper curve) shows responders.

SEQ ID NOS: 27, 40, 122, 43, 131, 50, 74, 127, 135, 86, 90, 128, 129, 99, 105, 115, 121, 126, 137, 129, 125, 132, 122, 123, 131, 133, 134, 127, 130, 135, 124, 128 and 136 represent 5′ and/or regulatory regions and/or CpG rich regions of the genes according to Table 1. These sequences are derived from Genbank and will be taken to include all minor variations of the sequence material which are currently unforeseen, for example, but not limited to, minor deletions and SNPs.

SEQ ID NOS: 299, 300, 325, 326, 327, 328, 331, 332, 345, 346, 381, 382, 393, 394, 401, 402, 411, 412, 417, 418, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 443, 444, 455, 456, 475, 476, 487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 573, 574, 599, 600, 601, 602, 605, 606, 619, 620, 655, 656, 667, 668, 675, 676, 685, 686, 691, 692, 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 717, 718, 729, 730, 749, 750, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 790, 791, 792, 793 and 794 exhibit the pretreated sequence of DNA derived from the genomic sequence according to Table 1. These sequences will be taken to include all minor variations of the sequence material which are currently unforeseen, for example, but not limited to, minor deletions and SNPs.

SEQ ID NO: 2003, 2003, 2003, 2003, 2004, 2004, 2004, 2004, 2005, 2005, 2005, 2005, 2006, 2006, 2006, 2006, 2007, 2007, 2007, 2007, 2008, 2008, 2008, 2008, 2009, 2009, 2009, 2009, 2010, 2010, 2010, 2010, 2011, 2011, 2011, 2012, 2012, 2012, 2013, 2013, 2014, 2014, 2015, 2015, 2016, 2016, 2017, 2017, 2017, 2018, 2018, 2018, 2019, 2019, 2019, 2020, 2020, 2020, 2021, 2021, 2022, 2022, 2023, 2023, 2024, 2024, 2025, 2025, 2026, 2026, 2027, 2027, 2028, 2028, 2029, 2029, 2030, 2030-2035, 2035, 2036, 2036, 2037, 2037, 2038, 2038-2045, 2045, 2046, 2046, 2047, 2047, 2048, 2048, 2049, 2049, 2050, 2050, 2051, 2051, 2052, 2052, 2053, 2053, 2054, 2054, 2055, 2055, 2056, 2056, 2057, 2057, 2058, 2058, 2059, 2059, 2060, 2060-2073, 2073, 2074, 2074-2077, 2077, 2078, 2078-2081, 2081, 2082, 2082-2095, 2095, 2096, 2096, 2097, 2097, 2098, 2098, 2099, 2099, 2100, 2100, 2101, 2101, 2102, 2102, 2103, 2103, 2104, 2104-2109, 2109, 2110, 2110, 2111, 2111, 2112, 2112, 2113, 2113, 2114, 2114-2123, 2123, 2124, 2124, 2125, 2125, 2126 and 2126-2142 exhibit the sequence of oligomers which are useful for the analysis of CpG positions within genomic DNA according to SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 63 according to Tables 2 and 3.

SEQ ID NO 2001 to SEQ ID NO 2140 exhibit the sequence of oligomers which are particularly useful for the analysis of the methylation status of CpG positions of genomic DNA according to SEQ ID NOS: 27, 40, 122, 43, 131, 50, 74, 127, 135, 86, 90, 128, 129, 99, 105, 115, 121, 126, 137, 129, 125, 132, 122, 123, 131, 133, 134, 127, 130, 135, 124, 128 and 136.

SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 56 and SEQ ID NO: 133 represent genomic sequences of gene TMEFF2 and SEQ ID NOs: 349, 350, 353, 354, 511, 623, 624, 627, 628, 785 and 786 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NOs: 56, 70 and 136 represent genomic sequences of gene ESR1 and SEQ ID Nos:357, 358, 385, 386, 515, 514, 631, 632, 659, 660, 787 and 788 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 135 and SEQ ID NO: 83 represent the genomic sequence of gene PITX2 and SEQ ID NOs: 411, 412, 515, 516, 685, 686, 789 and 790 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO 119 and SEQ ID NO: 136 represent genomic sequences of gene PCAF and SEQ ID Nos:483, 484, 517, 518, 757, 758, 791, 792 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 137 represents the genomic sequence of gene WBP11 and SEQ ID NOs: 519, 520, 793 and 794 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO:27 represents the genomic sequence of gene STMN1 and SEQ ID NOs: 299, 300, 573 and 574 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 90 and SEQ ID NO: 124 represent genomic sequence of gene PSA also known as PSAT1 and SEQ ID NOs: 425, 426, 699, 700, 493, 494, 767 and 768 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 91 and SEQ ID NO: 128 represent genomic sequence of gene CGA and SEQ ID NOs: 427, 428, 501, 502, 701, 702, 775 and 776 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 74 represents the genomic sequence of gene FGFR1 and SEQ ID NOs: 393, 394, 667 and 668 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO:50 represents the genomic sequence of gene PTGS2 and SEQ ID NOs: 345, 346, 619 and 620 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 90 represents the genomic sequence of gene MSMB and SEQ ID NOs: 443, 444, 717 and 718 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 68 and SEQ ID NO: 131 represent genomic sequence of gene TP53 and SEQ ID NOs: 381, 382, 507, 508, 655, 656, 781 and 782 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO 92 represents the genomic sequence of gene CYP2D6 and SEQ ID NOs: 429, 430, 703 and 704 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 41 and SEQ ID NO: 122 represent genomic sequence of gene S100A2 and SEQ ID NOs: 327, 328, 489, 490. 601, 601, 763 and 764 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 121 represents the genomic sequence of gene PRKCD and SEQ ID NOs: 487, 488, 761 and 762 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 78 and SEQ ID NO: 127 represents the genomic sequence of gene SYK and SEQ ID NOs: 401, 402, 499, 500, 675, 676, 773 and 774 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 115 represents the genomic sequence of gene VTN and SEQ ID NOs: 475, 476, 749, 750 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 86 represents the genomic sequence of gene GRIN2D and SEQ ID NOs: 417, 418, 691 and 692 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 43 represents the genomic sequence of gene TGFBR2 and SEQ ID NOs: 331, 332, 605 and 606 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 105 represents the genomic sequence of gene COX7A2L and SEQ ID NOs: 455, 456, 729 and 730 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 42 and SEQ ID NO: 123 represent genomic sequence of gene TFF1 and SEQ ID NOs: 329, 330, 491, 492, 603, 604, 765 and 766 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 125 represents the genomic sequence of gene DAG1 and SEQ ID NOs: 495, 496, 769 and 770 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 126 represents the genomic sequence of gene onecut and SEQ ID NOs: 497, 498, 771 and 772 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 129 represents the genomic sequence of gene CYP2D6 and SEQ ID NOs: 503, 504, 777 and 778 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 59 and SEQ ID NO: 130 represent genomic sequence of gene RASSF1 and SEQ ID Nos:363, 364, 505, 506, 637, 638, 779, 780 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 132 represents the genomic sequence of gene ERBB2 and SEQ ID NOs: 509, 510, 783 and 784 represent the pretreated sequence thereof.

Example 1

DNA samples were extracted using the Wizzard Kit (Promega), samples from 200 patients were analysed, four data analyses were carried out on a selection of candidate markers.

Bisulfite Treatment and mPCR

Total genomic DNA of all samples was bisulfite treated converting unmethylated cytosines to uracil. Methylated cytosines remained conserved. Bisulfite treatment was performed with minor modifications according to the protocol described in Olek et al. (1996). After bisulfitation, 10 ng of each DNA sample was used in subsequent mPCR reactions containing 6-8 primer pairs.

Each reaction contained the following:

400 μM dNTPs

2 pmol each primer

1 U Hot Star Taq (Qiagen)

10 ng DNA (bisulfite treated)

Further details of the primers are shown in TABLE 1.

Forty cycles were carried out as follows: Denaturation at 95° C. for 15 min, followed by annealing at 55° C. for 45 sec., primer elongation at 65° C. for 2 min. A final elongation at 65° C. was carried out for 10 min.

Hybridisation

All PCR products from each individual sample were then hybridised to glass slides carrying a pair of immobilised oligonucleotides for each CpG position under analysis. Each of these detection oligonucleotides was designed to hybridise to the bisulphite converted sequence around one CpG site which was either originally unmethylated (TO) or methylated (CG). See Table 2 for further details of hybridisation oligonucleotides used. Hybridisation conditions were selected to allow the detection of the single nucleotide differences between the TG and CG variants.

5 μl volume of each multiplex PCR product was diluted in 10×Ssarc buffer (10×Ssarc:230 ml 20×SSC, 180 ml sodium lauroyl sarcosinate solution 20%, dilute to 1000 ml with dH2O). The reaction mixture was then hybridised to the detection oligonucleotides as follows. Denaturation at 95° C., cooling down to 10° C., hybridisation at 42° C. overnight followed by washing with 10×Ssarc and dH2O at 42° C. Further details of the hybridisation oligonucleotides are shown in TABLE 2.

Fluorescent signals from each hybridised oligonucleotide were detected using genepix scanner and software. Ratios for the two signals (from the CG oligonucleotide and the TG oligonucleotide used to analyse each CpG position) were calculated based on comparison of intensity of the fluorescent signals.

Data Analysis Methods

Analysis of the chip data: From raw hybridisation intensities to methylation ratios; The log methylation ratio (log(CG/TG)) at each CpG position is determined according to a standardised preprocessing pipeline that includes the following steps: For each spot the median background pixel intensity is subtracted from the median foreground pixel intensity (this gives a good estimate of background corrected hybridisation intensities): For both CG and TG detection oligonucleotides of each CpG position the background corrected median of the 4 redundant spot intensities is taken; For each chip and each CpG position the log(CG/TG) ratio is calculated; For each sample the median of log(CG/TG) intensities over the redundant chip repetitions is taken. This ratio has the property that the hybridisation noise has approximately constant variance over the full range of possible methylation rates (Huber et al., 2002).

Principle Component Analysis

The principle component analysis (PCA) projects measurement vectors (e.g. chip data, methylation profiles on several CpGs etc.) onto a new coordinate system. The new coordinate axes are referred to as principal components. The first principal component spans the direction of the largest variance of the data. Subsequent components are ordered by decreasing variance and are orthogonal to each other. Different CpG positions contribute with different weights to the extension of the data cloud along different components. PCA is an unsupervised technique, i.e., it does not take into account the labels of the data points (for further details see e.g. Ripley (1996)).

PCA is typically used to project high dimensional data (in our case methylation-array data) onto lower dimensional subspaces in order to visualise or extract features with high variance from the data. In the present report we use 2 dimensional projections for statistical quality control of the data. We investigate the effect of different process parameters on the chip data and exclude that changing process parameters cause large alterations in the measurement values.

A robust version of PCA is used to detect single outlier chips and exclude them from further analysis (Model et al., 2002).

Hypothesis Testing

The main task is to identify markers that show significant differences in the average degree of methylation between two classes. A significant difference is detected when the null hypothesis that the average methylation of the two classes is identical can be rejected with p<0.05. Because we apply this test to a whole set of potential markers we have to correct the p-values for multiple testing. This was done by applying the False Discovery Rate (FDR) method (Dudoit et al., 2002).

For testing the null hypothesis that the methylation levels in the two classes are identical we used the likelihood ratio test for logistic regression models (Venables and Ripley, 2002). The logistic regression model for a single marker is a linear combination of methylation measurements from all CpG positions in the respective genomic region of interest (ROI). A significant p-value for a marker means that this ROI has some systematic correlation to the question of interest as given by the two classes. However, at least formally it makes no statement about the actual predictive power of the marker.

Class Prediction by Supervised Learning

In order to give a reliable estimate of how well the CpG ensemble of a selected marker can differentiate between different tissue classes we can determine its prediction accuracy by classification. For that purpose we calculate a methylation profile based prediction function using a certain set of tissue samples with their class label. This step is called training and it exploits the prior knowledge represented by the data labels. The prediction accuracy of that function is then tested by cross-validation or on a set of independent samples. As a method of choice, we use the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm (Duda (2001), Christiannini (2000)) to learn the prediction function. If not stated otherwise, for this report the risk associated with false positive or false negative classifications are set to be equal relative to the respective class sizes. It follows that the learning algorithm obtains a class prediction function with the objective to optimise accuracy on an independent test sample set. Therefore sensitivity and specificity of the resulting classifier can be expected to be approximately equal.

Data Analysis Data Sets 1 and 2 (FIGS. 5 to 13)

The data is then sorted into a ranked matrix according to CpG methylation differences between the two classes of tissues, using an algorithm. FIGS. 5, 7, 9 and 11 to 13 are shown in greyscale, wherein the most significant CpG positions are at the bottom of the matrix with significance decreasing towards the top. Black indicates total methylation at a given CpG position, white represents no methylation at the particular position, with degrees of methylation represented in grey, from light (low proportion of methylation) to dark (high proportion of methylation). Each row represents one specific CpG position within a gene and each column shows the methylation profile for the different CpGs for one sample. On the left side a CpG and gene identifier is shown this may be cross referenced with the accompanying table (Table 5) in order to ascertain the gene in question and the detection oligomer used. On the right side p values for the individual CpG positions are shown. The p values are the probabilities that the observed distribution occurred by chance in the data set. FIGS. 6, 8, 10 and 12 are the original red-green versions of the preceding figures (i.e., FIGS. 5, 7, 9 and 11 respectively). Dark grey indicates total methylation at a given CpG position, light grey represents no methylation at the particular position.

Data Set 1: Adjuvant Setting

Analysis of the methylation patterns of patient samples treated with Tamoxifen as an adjuvant therapy immediately following surgery (see FIG. 1) is shown in the matrices according to FIGS. 5 to 8. In this analysis it can be seen that the genes PTGS2, MSMB, TP53 and CYP2D6 were significantly differentially methylated between the two classes of tissues (responders to therapy and non responders to therapy).

In the classification shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the genes TP53 and MSMB were significantly more methylated in non-responders to the drug Tamoxifen, wherein subjects with a disease free survival of less than 36 months were classified as non responders and subjects with a disease free survival of greater than 60 months were classified as responders. This classification was carried out with a sensitivity of 0.84 and a sensitivity of 0.16.

In the classification shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 the gene PTGS2 was significantly more methylated in non responders to the drug Tamoxifen wherein subjects with a disease free survival of less than 24 months were classified as non responders and subjects with a disease free survival of greater than 100 months were classified as responders. This classification was carried out with a sensitivity of 0.89 and a sensitivity of 0.48.

Data Set 1: Metastatic Setting

Analysis of the methylation patterns of patient samples treated with Tamoxifen in a metastatic setting (see FIG. 2) is shown in the matrices according to FIGS. 9 to 12. The subjects analysed in this classification had relapsed following an initial treatment, the subsequent metastasis being treated by Tamoxifen.

In the classification shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 the genes FGFR1 and PSA were significantly less methylated in non responders to the drug Tamoxifen. Subjects with a progressive disease were classified as non responders and subjects who achieved partial or complete remission were classified as responders. This classification was carried out with a sensitivity of 0.45 and a sensitivity of 0.81.

The sensitivity of this classification could be improved by only analysing those patients who had not undergone chemotherapy. In this classification, shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 the genes FGFR1, PSA and CGA were significantly less methylated in non responders to the drug Tamoxifen. The sensitivity of the classification was thereby improved to 0.54 and the specificity to 0.85.

Data Set 2: Metastatic Setting

FIG. 12 shows the analysis of the total sample set wherein responders to the drug and compared to non responders, significant differences in methylation between the two classes of tissue were observed in the genes STMN 1 and PSA.

Wherein patients who had received chemotherapy as an additional therapy were excluded from the data set, an additional marker was observed CGA (see FIG. 13).

Data Set 2: Adjuvant Setting

Every CpG was put into a Cox proportional hazard model together with the known predictive markers N-stage and tumour size. The best marker was the gene PITX 2.

The Cox model for the best marker (oligonucleotide number 3522:2087) is:

coef Exp(coef) Se(coef) z P nStage 1.677 5.35 0.5390 3.11 0.00190 3522:2087 2.885 17.90 0.8211 3.51 0.00044 Tumour Size 0.120 1.13 0.0926 1.30 0.19000

This shows that 3522:2087 gives information about survival time independent of nStage. The tumour size has no significant predictive power for expected survival time.

Data Set 4: Metastatic Setting

In order to determine the ability of each gene promoter to predict success or failure of Tamoxifen treatment, the individual CpGs measured were combined per gene using Hotelling's T² statistics. Several genes were significantly associated with response to tamoxifen after correcting for multiple comparison with a moderate conservative false discovery rate of 25% (see FIG. 3). The genes were ONECUT2, WBP11, CYP2D6, DAG1, ERBB2, S100A2, TFF1, TP53, TMEFF2, ESR1, SYK, RASSF1, PITX2, PSAT1, CGA and PCAF.

FIG. 15 shows the uncorrected p-values on a log-scale. P-values were calculated from Likelihood ratio (LR) tests from multivariate logistic regression models. Each individual genomic region of interest is represented as a point, the upper dotted line represents the cut off point for the 25% false discovery rate, the lower dotted line shows the Bonferroni corrected 5% limit.

FIG. 16 shows a ranked matrix of the best 11 amplificates of data obtained according to Example 1 (Dataset 4). P-values were calculated from Likelihood ratio (LR) tests from multivariate logistic regression models. The figure is shown in greyscale, wherein the most significant CpG positions are at the bottom of the matrix with significance decreasing towards the top. Black indicates total methylation at a given CpG position, white represents no methylation at the particular position, with degrees of methylation represented in grey, from light (low proportion of methylation) to dark (high proportion of methylation). Each row represents one specific CpG position within a gene and each column shows the methylation profile for the different CpGs for one sample. The p-values for the individual CpG positions are shown on the right side. The p-values are the probabilities that the observed distribution occurred by chance in the data set.

Data Set 4: Adjuvant Setting

For each amplificate, the mean methylation over all oligo-pairs for that amplificate was calculated and the population split into equal sized groups according to their mean methylation values. The results are shown in FIGS. 17 to 21, as Kaplan-Meier estimated disease-free survival curves. The p-values were:

ESR1: p=0.0371

PCAF: p=0.0105

PITX2: p=3e-04

TMEFF2: p=0.0106

WBP11: p=0.0366

ERBB2: p=0.018

Data Set 3

In order to determine the ability of each gene promoter to predict success or failure of Tamoxifen treatment, the individual CpGs measured were combined per gene using Hotelling's T² statistics. To identify potential markers, the inventors performed our initial analysis on those 123 patients who showed the extreme types of response; either an objective response (CR+PR, 45 patients) or a progressive disease right from the start of treatment (PD, 78 patients). Several genes were significantly associated with response to tamoxifen after correcting for multiple comparison with a moderate conservative false discovery rate of 25% (see FIG. 3). The genes were STMN1, SFN, S100A2, TGFBR2, SYK, GRIN2D, PSA, COX7A2L, VTN and PRKCD.

From the DNA methylation data matrices we concluded that for the majority of the genes CpG island hypermethylation was correlated with favourable response to tamoxifen treatment, while for stathimin Voncoprotein 18 (STMN1) and stratifin/14-3-3 protein a (SFN) hypomethylation was associated with remission.

Subsequently, all 200 patients including those with an intermediate type of response (59 patients with stable disease (SD, no change of disease for more than 6 months) and 18 patients with stable disease for 6 months or less) were analysed in logistic regression analysis. For each of the selected genes, we combined per gene the estimates from the logistic regression for overall response (=Objective response+SD) of the different CpG dinucleotides measured. In the whole cohort, for all ten genes, the response rate to tamoxifen treatment was approximately 15 to 20% higher (odd ratios [OR's] ranging from 1.5 to 3.5) for patients whose tumours had a favourable DNA methylation status than those with an unfavourable status. In concordance, for the marker genes, the median PFS in the former group of patients was on average 1.8 times longer than that in the latter group (hazard ratios (HR's) ranging from 0.54 to 0.77). Thus, also in the complete cohort, these marker genes were associated with disease outcome after tamoxifen treatment.

Prediction of response to tamoxifen treatment in advanced breast cancer patients is based traditionally on the patient, disease, and tumour characteristics, i.e., age, first dominant site of relapse, disease-free interval, and ER status. We compared a predictive score calculated with the multivariable estimates of the traditional predictive factors (traditional factors-based score) with a score derived from DNA methylation data only (DNA methylation-based score). For a DNA methylation-based score, we included only genes whose DNA methylation status predicted response independent of each other. To establish this, we added the DNA methylation status information of each of the marker genes simultaneously to a multivariable logistic regression model. After backward elimination of the non-significant genes (P<0.05), the genes STMN1, SFN, S100A2, TGFBR2, SYK, GRIN2D, PSA, COX7A2L, VTN and PRKCD, were statistically significant and predicted response, independent of one another. The DNA methylation-based score that was subsequently compared to the traditional factors-based score was derived from the multivariable estimates of these genes.

The score for each tumour based on either traditional predictive factors or DNA methylation status was used to divide the patients into 4 groups by its 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile values (Table 3). The DNA methylation-based score showed a much better discriminatory strength with overall response than the traditional factors-based score (Table 3). The overall response rates in the DNA methylation-based score increased from 26% for the patients in the first quarter (q1)(OR set at 1.0), 34% for in the second quarter (q2) (OR=1.5), 66% in third for q3 (OR=5.5) and 82% and last quarter for q4 (OR=13.0) (P<0.001) while for the traditional factors-based score the rates increased only from 36% (OR, set at 1.0) for q1 of this score, via 46% (OR=1.5) (q2) to 64% (OR=3.2) and 62% (OR=2.9) (q3) (q4), respectively (P=0.013) (Table 3).

Similarly, median PFS in the extreme quarters for the DNA methylation-based score differed 4.2 times (from 3.8 to 16.1 months) while for the traditional factors-based score the difference between the two extreme quarters was only half of that (2.1 times; from 4.7 to 9.7 months) (compare curves of FIG. 14A with FIG. 14B).

Hence, we have shown for the first time that an epigenetic profile based on the CpG island DNA methylation status of promoter regions of just five genes can predict the likelihood of therapy response in patients with ER-positive advanced breast cancer treated with tamoxifen therapy. Furthermore, it appeared that this prediction was much more accurate than the prediction based on commonly used traditional predictive factors, suggesting that DNA methylation analysis may be useful for clinical therapy decisions. Epigenetic profiling of tumour tissue DNA can therefore be a competitive and simple alternative for tedious mRNA profiling that is highly dependent on well-preserved tumour tissue material. Besides that epigenetic DNA profiles are very stable, are localised to specific sites (the promoter region of a gene) and can be easily amplified by PCR. Above and beyond, DNA methylation status determination can be performed on archived frozen or easily accessible paraffin-embedded tumour tissue material, making it widely applicable in the routine clinical setting.

Example 2 Lightcycler Assay

In the following example the Tamoxifen response relevant methylation status of the gene PSAT1 was verified by analysis of 24 patient samples using a Real-Time assay comprising a blocker oligonucleotide and Lightcycler probes.

Primer: (SEQ ID NO: 2143) TAGGTTGGTAGGGGTAG Primer: (SEQ ID NO: 2144) AAAACTCACATCCCCATTAA Probe: (SEQ ID NO: 2145) TTTTTTGTATTGATTAAAAATGGGGGTTGAAATAGTA Methylation specific Probe: (SEQ ID NO: 2146) CGCGAGGAGGAGTAATTGTTTC Methylation specific Probe: (SEQ ID NO: 2147) TGTGAGGAGGAGTAATTGtTTTGATTT

The reactions were each run in triplicate on each DNA sample with the following assay conditions:

Reaction Solution:

Qiagen HotStarTaq 5U 10 × PCR-buffer 1× MgCl₂   3 mM Primers  300 nM each Probes  250 nM each dNTPs  200 nM each BSA 0.25 mg/ml template-DNA   10 ng

Cycling Profile:

95° C. denaturation for 15 minutes

55 cycles: 95° C. 10 seconds, 55° C. 20 seconds, 57° C. 3 seconds, 72° C. 20 seconds

Results are shown in Table 4.

TABLE 1 Ampli- ficate No. Gene Primer Length 1 ABCB1 TAAGTATGTTGAAGAAAGATTAT 633 (SEQ ID NO: 1) TGTAG (SEQ ID NO: 795) TAAAAACTATCCCATAATAACTC CCAAC (SEQ ID NO: 796) 2 APOC2 ATGAGTAGAAGAGGTGATAT 533 (SEQ ID NO: 2) (SEQ ID NO: 797) CCCTAAATCCCTTTCTTACC (SEQ ID NO: 798) 3 CACNA1G GGGATTTAAGAGAAATTGAGGTA 707 (SEQ ID NO: 3) (SEQ ID NO: 799) AAACCCCAAACATCCTTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 800) 4 EGR4 AGGGGGATTGAGTGTTAAGT  293 (SEQ ID NO: 4) (SEQ ID NO: 802) CCCAAACATAAACACAAAAT (SEQ ID NO: 801) 5 AR GTAGTAGTAGTAGTAAGAGA 460 (SEQ ID NO: 5) (SEQ ID NO: 803) ACCCCCTAAATAATTATCCT (SEQ ID NO: 804) 6 RB1 TTTAAGTTTGTTTTTGTTTTGGT 718 (SEQ ID NO: 6) (SEQ ID NO: 805) TCCTACTCTAAATCCTCCTCAA (SEQ ID NO: 806) 7 GP1BB GGTGATAGGAGAATAATGTTGG 379 (SEQ ID NO: 7) (SEQ ID NO: 807) TCTCCCAACTACAACCAAAC (SEQ ID NO: 808) 8 WT1 AAAGGGAAATTAAGTGTTGT 747 (SEQ ID NO: 8) (SEQ ID NO: 810) TAACTACCCTCAACTTCCC (SEQ ID NO: 809) 9 HLA-F TTGTTGTTTTTAGGGGTTTTGG 946 (SEQ ID NO: 9) (SEQ ID NO: 811) TCCTTCCCATTCTCCAAATATC (SEQ ID NO: 812) 10 ELK1 AAGTGTTTTAGTTTTTAATGGG 966 (SEQ ID NO: 10) TA (SEQ ID NO: 813) CAAACCCAAAACTCACCTAT (SEQ ID NO: 814) 11 ARHI GTGAGTTTTTGGGGTGTTTA 442 (SEQ ID NO: 12) (SEQ ID NO: 815) TCAATCTTACTTTCACACTACAT AA (SEQ ID NO: 816) 12 BCL2 GTATTTTATGTTAAGGGGGAAA 640 (SEQ ID NO: 13) (SEQ ID NO: 817) AAAAACCACAATCCTCCC (SEQ ID NO: 818) 13 BRCA1 TGGATGGGAATTGTAGTTTT 537 (SEQ ID NO: 14) (SEQ ID NO: 819) TTAACCACCCAATCTACCC (SEQ ID NO: 820) 14 CALCA GTTTTGGAAGTATGAGGGTG 614 (SEQ ID NO: 15) (SEQ ID NO: 821) CCAAATTCTAAACCAATTTCC (SEQ ID NO: 822) 15 CCND2 TTTTGGTATGTAGGTTGGATG 426 (SEQ ID NO: 16) (SEQ ID NO: 823) CCTAACCTCCTTCCTTTAACT (SEQ ID NO: 824) 16 CDH1 GAGGTTGGGGTTAGAGGAT 478 (SEQ ID NO: 17) (SEQ ID NO: 825) CAAACTCACAAATACTTTACAAT TC (SEQ ID NO: 826) 17 CDKN1B GTGGGGAGGTAGTTGAAGA 478 (SEQ ID NO: 18) (SEQ ID NO: 827) ATACACCCCTAACCCAAAAT (SEQ ID NO: 828) 18 CDKN2A TTGAAAATTAAGGGTTGAGG 598 (SEQ ID NO: 19) (SEQ ID NO: 829) CACCCTCTAATAACCAACCA (SEQ ID NO: 830) 19 CDKN2A GGGGTTGGTTGGTTATTAGA 256 (SEQ ID NO: 19) (SEQ ID NO: 831) AACCCTCTACCCACCTAAAT (SEQ ID NO: 832) 20 CDKN2B GGTTGGTTGAAGGAATAGAAAT 708 (SEQ ID NO: 20) (SEQ ID NO: 833) CCCACTAAACATACCCTTATTC (SEQ ID NO: 834) 21 CD44 GAAAGGAGAGGTTAAAGGTTG 696 (SEQ ID NO: 21) (SEQ ID NO: 835) AACTCACTTAACTCCAATCCC (SEQ ID NO: 836) 22 CSPG2 GGATAGGAGTTGGGATTAAGAT 414 (SEQ ID NO: 22) (SEQ ID NO: 837) AAATCTTTTTCAACACCAAAAT (SEQ ID NO: 838) 23 DAPK1 AACCCTTTCTTCAAATTACAAA 348 (SEQ ID NO: 23) (SEQ ID NO: 839) TGATTGGGTTTTAGGGAAATA (SEQ ID NO: 840) 24 GGT1 GTGAAGGGTGTGAGTTGTTTA 562 (SEQ ID NO: 24) (SEQ ID NO: 841) CACAATCAATTTCCCACAA (SEQ ID NO: 842) 25 GSTP1 ATTTGGGAAAGAGGGAAAG 300 (SEQ ID NO: 25) (SEQ ID NO: 843) TAAAAACTCTAAACCCCATCC (SEQ ID NO: 844) 26 HIC1 TGGGTTGGAGAAGAAGTTTA 280 (SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 845) TCATATTTCCAAAAACACACC (SEQ ID NO: 846) 27 STMN1 GAGTTTGTATTTAAGTTGAGTGG 334 (SEQ ID NO: 27) TT (SEQ ID NO: 847) AACAAAACAATACCCCTTCTAA (SEQ ID NO: 848) 28 STK11 TAAAAGAAGGATTTTTGATTGG 528 (SEQ ID NO: 28) (SEQ ID NO: 850) CATCTTATTTACCTCCCTCCC (SEQ ID NO: 849) 29 ING4 ATTAGGGATGAGAGGATTTGTA 212 (SEQ ID NO: 29) (SEQ ID NO: 851) TCTTCCTAACCATACACACTAA CC (SEQ ID NO: 852) 30 MGMT AAGGTTTTAGGGAAGAGTGTTT 636 (SEQ ID NO: 30) (SEQ ID NO: 853) ACCTTTTCCTATCACAAAAATAA (SEQ ID NO: 854) 31 MLH1 TAAGGGGAGAGGAGGAGTTT 545 (SEQ ID NO: 31) (SEQ ID NO: 855) ACCAATTCTCAATCATCTCTTT (SEQ ID NO: 856) 32 MYC AGAGGGAGTAAAAGAAAATGGT 712 (SEQ ID NO: 33) (SEQ ID NO: 857) CCAAATAAACAAAATAACCTCC (SEQ ID NO: 858) 33 N33 TTTTAGATTGAGGTTTTAGGGT 497 (SEQ ID NO: 35) (SEQ ID NO: 859) ATCCATTCTACCTCCTTTTTCT (SEQ ID NO: 860) 34 PAX6 GGAGGGGAGAGGGTTATG 374 (SEQ ID NO: 36) (SEQ ID NO: 861) TACTATACACACCCCAAAACAA (SEQ ID NO: 862) 35 X51730 PGR TTTTGGGAATGGGTTGTAT 369 (SEQ ID NO: 67) (SEQ ID NO: 921) CTACCCTTAACCTCCATCCTA (SEQ ID NO: 922) 36 PTEN TTTTAGGTAGTTATATTGGGTAT 346 (SEQ ID NO: 38) GTT (SEQ ID NO: 865) TCAACTCTCAAACTTCCATCA (SEQ ID NO: 866) 37 RARB TTGTTGGGAGTTTTTAAGTTTT 353 (SEQ ID NO: 39) (SEQ ID NO: 867) CAAATTCTCCTTCCAAATAAAT (SEQ ID NO: 868) 38 SFN GAAGAGAGGAGAGGGAGGTA 489 (SEQ ID NO: 40) (SEQ ID NO: 870) CTATCCAACAAACCCAACA (SEQ ID NO: 869) 39 S100A2 GTTTTTAAGTTGGAGAAGAGGA 460 (SEQ ID NO: 41) (SEQ ID NO: 1031) ACCTATAAATCACAACCCACTC (SEQ ID NO: 1032) 40 TGFBR2 GTAATTTGAAGAAAGTTGAGGG 296 (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 873) CCAACAACTAAACAAAACCTCT (SEQ ID NO: 874) 41 TIMP3 TGAGAAAATTGTTGTTTGAAGT 306 (SEQ ID NO: 44) (SEQ ID NO: 875) CAAAATACCCTAAAAACCACTC (SEQ ID NO: 876) 42 VHL TGTAAAATGAATAAAGTTAATGA 362 (SEQ ID NO: 45) GTG (SEQ ID NO: 877) TCCTAAATTCAAATAATCCTCCT (SEQ ID NO: 878) 43 CDKN1C GGGGAGGTAGATATTTGGATAA 300 (SEQ ID NO: 46) (SEQ ID NO: 879) AACTACACCATTTATATTCCCAC (SEQ ID NO: 880) 44 CAV1 GTTAGTATGTTTGGGGGTAAAT 435 (SEQ ID NO: 47) (SEQ ID NO: 882) ATAAATAACACCTTCCACCCTA (SEQ ID NO: 881) 45 CDH13 TTTGTATTAGGTTGGAAGTGGT 286 (SEQ ID NO: 48) (SEQ ID NO: 883) CCCAAATAAATCAACAACAACA (SEQ ID NO: 884) 46 NDRG1 GGTTTTGGGTTTAGTGGTAAAT 416 (SEQ ID NO: 49) (SEQ ID NO: 886) AACTTTCATAACTCACCCTTTC (SEQ ID NO: 885) 47 PTGS2 GATTTTTGGAGAGGAAGTTAAG 381 (SEQ ID NO: 50) (SEQ ID NO: 888) AAAACTAAAAACCAAACCCATA (SEQ ID NO: 887) 48 THBS1 TGGGGTTAGTTTAGGATAGG 398 (SEQ ID NO: 51) (SEQ ID NO: 889) CTTAAAAACACTAAAACTTCTCA AA (SEQ ID NO: 890) 49 TMEFF2 TTGTTTGGGTTAATAAATGGA 295 (SEQ ID NO: 52) (SEQ ID NO: 891) CTTCTCTCTTCTCCCCTCTC (SEQ ID NO: 892) 50 PLAU TATTATAGGAGGATTGAGGAGG 499 (SEQ ID NO: 53) (SEQ ID NO: 893) CCCATAAAATCATACCACTTCT (SEQ ID NO: 894) 51 TMEFF2 TGTTGGTTGTTGTTGTTGTT 319 (SEQ ID NO: 54) (SEQ ID NO: 1037) CTTTCTACCCATCCCAAAA (SEQ ID NO: 1038) 52 DNMT1 TCCCCATCACACCTAAAA 210 (SEQ ID NO: 55) (SEQ ID NO: 897) GGGAGGAGGGGATGTATT (SEQ ID NO: 898) 53 ESR1 AGGGGGAATTAAATAGAAAGAG 662 (SEQ ID NO: 70) (SEQ ID NO: 927) CAATAAAACCATCCCAAATACT (SEQ ID NO: 928) 54 APAF1 AGATATGTTTGGAGATTTTAGGA 674 (SEQ ID NO: 57) (SEQ ID NO: 901) AACTCCCCACCTCTAATTCTAT (SEQ ID NO: 902) 55 HOXA5 AAACCCCAAACAACCTCTAT 392 (SEQ ID NO: 58) (SEQ ID NO: 904) GAAGGGGGAAAGTTATTTAGTTA (SEQ ID NO: 903) 56 RASSF1 ACCTCTCTACAAATTACAAATT 347 (SEQ ID NO: 59) CA (SEQ ID NO: 905) AGTTTGGGTTAGTTTGGGTT (SEQ ID NO: 906) 57 BRCA2 ACCCACCCAAACCTAACT 388 (SEQ ID NO: 60) (SEQ ID NO: 908) GGTTGGTAGAGATAAAAGGGTA (SEQ ID NO: 907) 58 CCND1 GATTATAGGGGAGTTTTGTTGA 404 (SEQ ID NO: 61) (SEQ ID NO: 909) CACCTCCAACATCCAAATA (SEQ ID NO: 910) 59 EDNRB TCAAAACATCCTCTATCTCTCC 484 (SEQ ID NO: 62) (SEQ ID NO: 912) ATAATTGGGGGTTGTATGTATT (SEQ ID NO: 911) 60 EGFR GGGTTTGGTTGTAATATGGATT 732 (SEQ ID NO: 63) (SEQ ID NO: 913) CCCAACACTACCCCTCTAA (SEQ ID NO: 914) 61 ERBB2 GAGGTAGAGGTTGTGGTGAGT 528 (SEQ ID NO: 64) (SEQ ID NO: 915) TCCCAACTTCACTTTCTCC (SEQ ID NO: 916) 62 FOS ATCCTCCACTTTCTACTTCCA 500 (SEQ ID NO: 65) (SEQ ID NO: 918) TTTTAGGGTTATAGGGAAAGGT (SEQ ID NO: 917) 63 NFKB1 TTTGTAGAATGAAAAGTAGAGTG 485 (SEQ ID NO: 66) TG (SEQ ID NO: 919) ACCTTAAAAACCCCAACAAT (SEQ ID NO: 920) 64 X51730 PGR TTTTGGGAATGGGTTGTAT 369 (SEQ ID NO: 67) (SEQ ID NO: 921) CTACCCTTAACCTCCATCCTA (SEQ ID NO: 922) 65 TP53 GAGTAGGTAGTTGTTGGGTTTC 702 (SEQ ID NO: 68) (SEQ ID NO: 923) ACCCCTAATTTAACACTTCTCA (SEQ ID NO: 924) 66 TP73 AGTAAATAGTGGGTGAGTTATG 607 (SEQ ID NO: 69) AA (SEQ ID NO: 925) GAAAAACCTCTAAAAACTACTCT CC (SEQ ID NO: 926) 67 ESR1 AGGGGGAATTAAATAGAAAGAG 662 (SEQ ID NO: 70) (SEQ ID NO: 927) CAATAAAACCATCCCAAATACT (SEQ ID NO: 928) 68 SERPINE1 GGGGTATAGAGAGAGTTTGGAT 492 (SEQ ID NO: 71) (SEQ ID NO: 929) ACAATTAAACAAACCCCAATAA (SEQ ID NO: 930) 69 CALM1 AAAAACTCTAACCCTTCTCAAA 414 (SEQ ID NO: 72) (SEQ ID NO: 932) TATTTTTAGTTTGGGGTGTTGT (SEQ ID NO: 931) 70 CSNK2B TACCCCTCACCATTACTCTAAC 437 (SEQ ID NO: 73) (SEQ ID NO: 934) TAGTTTTGTGTTTATTGGGTGA (SEQ ID NO: 933) 71 FGFR1 AGGGAGTTAGTGGTGTGGTAT 367 (SEQ ID NO: 74) (SEQ ID NO: 935) CCTTTACCCTTCTCAAATCTAA (SEQ ID NO: 936) 72 MKI67 CCAATACTCTACAACCATCAAA 499 (SEQ ID NO: 75) (SEQ ID NO: 938) GGGAAGTTGAAGTAGGAAGAT (SEQ ID NO: 937) 73 NPM1 AAGGAAGGAGGAAGTAATTTGT 454 (SEQ ID NO: 76) (SEQ ID NO: 939) TTACACCAACCCCTAAACTAAC (SEQ ID NO: 940) 74 MAPK1 TTTAGATAATTTTAGGATGGGG 743 (SEQ ID NO: 77) (SEQ ID NO: 941) TTCTCATTCACAAAAACAAAAA (SEQ ID NO: 942) 75 SYK GTGGGTTTTGGGTAGTTATAGA 485 (SEQ ID NO: 78) (SEQ ID NO: 1041) TAACCTCCTCTCCTTACCAA (SEQ ID NO: 1042) 76 TK2 ATACAACCTCAAATCCTATCCA 485 (SEQ ID NO: 79) (SEQ ID NO: 946) AGGGAGAAGGAAGTTATTTGTT (SEQ ID NO: 945) 77 HSPB1 CCTACCTCTACCACTTCTCAAT 216 (SEQ ID NO: 80) (SEQ ID NO: 948) AAGAGGGTTTAGTTTTTATTTGG (SEQ ID NO: 947) 78 TES AGGTTGGGGATTTTAGTTTTT 448 (SEQ ID NO: 81) (SEQ ID NO: 949) ACCTTCTTCACTTTATTTTCCA (SEQ ID NO: 950) 79 SDC4 CCTAACTACCCTCATTCCTTT 269 (SEQ ID NO: 82) (SEQ ID NO: 952) AGTTGGGGAAATTAAGGTTTAG (SEQ ID NO: 951) 80 PITX2 TCCTCAACTCTACAAACCTAAAA 408 (SEQ ID NO: 83) (SEQ ID NO: 1056) GTAGGGGAGGGAAGTAGATGT (SEQ ID NO: 1055) 81 GPR37 ACTTATTTTTCTTTTCCTCTAAA 489 (SEQ ID NO: 84) AAC (SEQ ID NO: 956) TATGGTTTGGTGAGGGTATATT (SEQ ID NO: 955) 82 FGF1 AGTTGTGTTTAATTGGGAAGAG 420 (SEQ ID NO: 85) (SEQ ID NO: 957) CTTATCCCATCCACTATACCAT (SEQ ID NO: 958) 83 GRIN2D ATAGTTTGTGGTTTGGATTTTT 435 (SEQ ID NO: 86) (SEQ ID NO: 959) AAAACCTTTCCCTAACTTCAAT (SEQ ID NO: 960) 84 CTSB AAAATTCCATCAAATAACCATAA 450 (SEQ ID NO: 87) (SEQ ID NO: 962) AAAAAGGAAGGTAGTAGGATTGT (SEQ ID NO: 961) 85 CTSD ATACAACCCTCCAACCTTCTAC 498 (SEQ ID NO: 88) (SEQ ID NO: 964) AAGGGGTTTTTAAGGAAATG (SEQ ID NO: 963) 86 PLAUR TGGTTAAAATGGAGGGTTTAAT 348 (SEQ ID NO: 89) (SEQ ID NO: 965) CCCCAAATTACCTAAATACAAA (SEQ ID NO: 966) 87 PSA TAAGAGAGAGGAGTTGAGGTTT 478 (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 967) CCAAAATTAACCACCTACCTAA (SEQ ID NO: 968) 88 CGA TAGTGGTATAAGTTTGGAAATG 364 (SEQ ID NO: 91) TT (SEQ ID NO: 1047) TCCACCTACATCTAAACCCTAA (SEQ ID NO: 1048) 89 CYP2D6 TAAGGGTTTGGAGTAGGAAGTA 403 (SEQ ID NO: 92) (SEQ ID NO: 971) CACATACAACAAAATTACCCAA (SEQ ID NO: 972) 90 CYP3A4 TATCACCACCTTCCCATATTTA 484 (SEQ ID NO: 93) (SEQ ID NO: 974) GTTTGATGAATGGATTGTATGA (SEQ ID NO: 973) 91 TK1 ACCTCTACAAACATCTTATTCCA 487 (SEQ ID NO: 94) (SEQ ID NO: 976) TTGGGGGAGTTAGGTAGTATAG (SEQ ID NO: 975) 92 RENBP TTTGGTAGGGTTAAGGTTTTTA 350 (SEQ ID NO: 95) (SEQ ID NO: 977) CTTACTCATCCCTCCTACTCC (SEQ ID NO: 978) 93 F12 TAGGTTTAGGAGGGTAGTTTGA 450 (SEQ ID NO: 96) (SEQ ID NO: 979) CTCTCACAACCCAAAAATACA (SEQ ID NO: 980) 94 REN ACCTACTCCAAAAATCACAAAA 489 (SEQ ID NO: 97) (SEQ ID NO: 982) TATGTGGAAAAGTTAGGGTGTT (SEQ ID NO: 981) 95 EBAG9 CCAAAACTCATTAACTCCCA 463 (SEQ ID NO: 98) (SEQ ID NO: 984) AATGTTTTAGAGGTTAGGGTTG (SEQ ID NO: 983) 96 MSMB GTTTTGTAGGATGGTTTGATTT 324 (SEQ ID NO: 99) (SEQ ID NO: 985) TATATTTACCTTATCCCCACCC (SEQ ID NO: 986) 97 X15323 AAACTCTCCCCTACCCTCTAC 374 angiotensinogen (SEQ ID NO: 988) gene 5′region GATGGAGTTGTTTTTAGGTTGT and exon 1 (SEQ ID NO: 987) (SEQ ID NO: 100) 98 ZNF147 TTTGTGTAAATAAGATGTGGGA 484 (SEQ ID NO: 101) (SEQ ID NO: 989) TAAACCCCTACAAAACTACCAA (SEQ ID NO: 990) 99 EBBP GTATTTGTTTTTGGTGAGGGT 482 (SEQ ID NO: 102) (SEQ ID NO: 991) ATCATCTTCCTAAACATTCCAA (SEQ ID NO: 992) 100 CALR TAAATCACAACCATTAACCAAA 490 (SEQ ID NO: 103) (SEQ ID NO: 994) ATAAGAGGGGAGGAAGGTTTA (SEQ ID NO: 993) 101 BCAR1 AATTCTTCCTTCTATCTCCCTC 499 (SEQ ID NO: 104) (SEQ ID NO: 996) TTTATTTTTGGGAAGGTTGTT (SEQ ID NO: 995) 102 COX7A2L AATCCTAAAAACCCTAACTTTTA 398 (SEQ ID NO: 105) AT (SEQ ID NO: 998) GGAGGTGTAAGGAGAATAGAGA (SEQ ID NO: 997) 103 AF174646 CCAATTCATCATTCAACATCTA 325 glandular (SEQ ID NO: 1000) kallikrein gene, ATTTATTTGGGAGGATAGTGG promoter region (SEQ ID NO: 999) and partial sequence (SEQ ID NO: 106) 104 KLK3 TTGGAGTGTAAAGGATTTAGGT 387 (SEQ ID NO: 107) (SEQ ID NO: 1001) AACCCACATAATAACACAACTCT (SEQ ID NO: 1002) 105 AKR1B1 CAACAAAAACATTCTTCTAAAC 446 (SEQ ID NO: 108) TC (SEQ ID NO: 1004) AGGTATTTAATTTTAGGATGGGT (SEQ ID NO: 1003) 106 TGM4 AATCCTAACTTTTAATCACCCA 435 (SEQ ID NO: 109) (SEQ ID NO: 1006) GAGAGGGTAATGGTTTTAGGTA (SEQ ID NO: 1005) 107 AR AATATAGGGAGGTTTAGGGTTT 424 (SEQ ID NO: 110) (SEQ ID NO: 1007) TAACCATACATTTCTCATCCAA (SEQ ID NO: 1008) 108 HSPA1A AACCTTTCAAATTCACAATCA 495 (SEQ ID NO: 111) (SEQ ID NO: 1010) GGATTTATTGGAGGGGATAG (SEQ ID NO: 1009) 109 FKBP4 TTTTTAAGTAGGGAAGGGTTT 308 (SEQ ID NO: 112) (SEQ ID NO: 1011) TCCTTCTAACTACCTACCCCC (SEQ ID NO: 1012) 110 ESR2 AAACCTTCCCAATAACCTCTTA 471 (SEQ ID NO: 113) (SEQ ID NO: 1014) TAGAGGGGAGTAGTGTTTGAGT (SEQ ID NO: 1013) 111 IGF1 TACCCTTCTCCCAAAATAATAA 402 (SEQ ID NO: 114) (SEQ ID NO: 1016) GTATTAAAGGAATATGGGGGAT (SEQ ID NO: 1015) 112 VTN GTTATTTGGGTTAATGTAGGGA 492 (SEQ ID NO: 115) (SEQ ID NO: 1017) TCTATCCCCTCAAACTTAAAAA (SEQ ID NO: 1018) 113 CTSL CTACACCCACCCTTAAATAAAA 328 (SEQ ID NO: 116) (SEQ ID NO: 1020) TTAGTGGATTTGGAGGAAGTAG (SEQ ID NO: 1019) 114 TGFB3 CCTACTAAAAATCAAAACCCAA 369 (SEQ ID NO: 117) (SEQ ID NO: 1022) AAGGTGGTGTAAGTGGATAGAG (SEQ ID NO: 1021) 115 MAPKAPK5 AAACCTACCTCCCCAACTAA 495 (SEQ ID NO: 118) (SEQ ID NO: 1024) ATTTTTGGTTTTAGGGTTGTAA (SEQ ID NO: 1023) 116 PCAF GGATAAATGATTGAGAGGTTGT 369 (SEQ ID NO: 119) (SEQ ID NO: 1057) CCTCCCTTAATTCTCCTACC (SEQ ID NO: 1058) 117 NCOA3 AAGGGGGTGTTTGTTAGATT 330 (SEQ ID NO: 120) (SEQ ID NO: 1027) CCTAACCCTACCCTTAATTTTT (SEQ ID NO: 1028) 118 PRKCD CTTAACCCATCCCAATCA 322 (SEQ ID NO: 121) (SEQ ID NO: 1030) GATAGAAGGATTTTAGTTTTTAT TGTT (SEQ ID NO: 1029) 119 S100A2 GTTTTTAAGTTGGAGAAGAGGA 460 (SEQ ID NO: 41) (SEQ ID NO: 1031) ACCTATAAATCACAACCCACTC (SEQ ID NO: 1032) 120 PSA GTAGGTGGTTAATTTTGGGTT 500 (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 1033) CTCATTCACACTATATCCATTCA (SEQ ID NO: 1034) 121 ESR1 CTATCAATTCCCCCAACTACT 349 (SEQ ID NO: 70) (SEQ ID NO: 1036) TTGTTGGATAGAGGTTGAGTTT (SEQ ID NO: 1035) 122 TMEFF2 TGTTGGTTGTTGTTGTTGTT 319 (SEQ ID NO: 54) (SEQ ID NO: 1037) CTTTCTACCCATCCCAAAA (SEQ ID NO: 1038) 123 TP53 TTGATGAGAAGAAAGGATTTAGT 496 (SEQ ID NO: 68) (SEQ ID NO: 1039) TCAAATTCAATCAAAAACTTACC (SEQ ID NO: 1040) 124 SYK GTGGGTTTTGGGTAGTTATAGA 485 (SEQ ID NO: 78) (SEQ ID NO: 1041) TAACCTCCTCTCCTTACCAA (SEQ ID NO: 1042) 125 DAG1 AATACCAACCCAAACATCTACC 315 (SEQ ID NO: 125) (SEQ ID NO: 1044) TTTGGTTATGTGGAGTTTATTGT (SEQ ID NO: 1043) 126 ONECUT2 TTTGTTGGGATTTGTTAGGAT 467 (SEQ ID NO: 126) (SEQ ID NO: 1045) AAACATTTTACCCCTCTAAACC (SEQ ID NO: 1046) 127 CGA TAGTGGTATAAGTTTGGAAATG 364 (SEQ ID NO: 91) TT (SEQ ID NO: 1047) TCCACCTACATCTAAACCCTAA (SEQ ID NO: 1048) 128 CYP2D6 AATTTCCTAACCCACTATCCTC 379 (SEQ ID NO: 129) (SEQ ID NO: 1050) ATTTGTAGTTTGGGGTGATTT (SEQ ID NO: 1049) 129 RASSF1 AGTGGGTAGGTTAAGTGTGTTG 319 (SEQ ID NO: 59) (SEQ ID NO: 1051) CCCCAAAATCCAAACTAAA (SEQ ID NO: 1052) 130 ERBB2 GGAGGGGGTAGAGTTATTAGTT 258 (SEQ ID NO: 64) (SEQ ID NO: 1053) TATACTTCCTCAAACAACCCTC (SEQ ID NO: 1054) 131 PITX2 TCCTCAACTCTACAAACCTAAAA 408 (SEQ ID NO: 83) (SEQ ID NO: 1056) GTAGGGGAGGGAAGTAGATGT (SEQ ID NO: 1055) 132 PCAF GGATAAATGATTGAGAGGTTGT 369 (SEQ ID NO: 119) (SEQ ID NO: 1057) CCTCCCTTAATTCTCCTACC (SEQ ID NO: 1058) 133 WBP11 AAGAGGTGAGGAAGAGTAGTAA 437 (SEQ ID NO: 137) AT (SEQ ID NO: 1059) CTCCCAACAACTAAATCAAAAT (SEQ ID NO: 1060)

TABLE 2 No. Gene Oligo 1 STMN1 GTTATCGGTTCGGGAATT (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2001) 2 STMN1 GTTATTGGTTTGGGAATT (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2002) 3 STMN1 GTTATCGGTTCGGGAATT (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2001) 4 STMN1 GTTATTGGTTTGGGAATT (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2002) 5 STMN1 GTAAGAACGTATATAGTGAG (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2003) 6 STMN1 GTAAGAATGTATATAGTGAG (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2004) 7 STMN1 GTAAGAACGTATATAGTGAG (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2003) 8 STMN1 GTAAGAATGTATATAGTGAG (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2004) 9 STMN1 AGAAATTACGATGATGTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2005) 10 STMN1 AGAAATTATGATGATGTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2006) 11 STMN1 AGAAATTACGATGATGTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2005) 12 STMN1 AGAAATTATGATGATGTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2006) 13 STMN1 ATGGGTGATACGTCGGTG (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO 2007) 14 STMN1 ATGGGTGATATGTTGGTG (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2008) 15 STMN1 ATGGGTGATACGTCGGTG (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2007) 16 STMN1 ATGGGTGATATGTTGGTG (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2008) 17 PSA TTTCGATTCGGTTTAGA (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2009) 18 PSA AATTGTTTTGATTTGGTT (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2010) 19 PSA TAATGGGGCGTCGATT (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2011) 20 PSA TTAATGGGGTGTTGATT (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2012) 21 PSA TATCGTAGCGGTTAGG (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2013) 22 PSA TATTGTAGTGGTTAGGAA (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2014) 23 PSA AGGAACGTTAGTCGTT (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2015) 24 PSA TAGGAATGTTAGTTGTTT (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2016) 25 PSA GGTCGTCGTATTATGGA (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2017) 26 PSA TGGTTGTTGTATTATGGA (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2018) 27 CGA TAAATTGACGTTATGGTA (SEQ ID NO: 91) (SEQ ID NO: 2019) 28 CGA AAATTGATGTTATGGTAAA (SEQ ID NO: 91) (SEQ ID NO: 2020) 29 CGA AATTGACGTTATGGTAAT (SEQ ID NO: 91) (SEQ ID NO: 2021) 30 CGA TAAAAATTGATGTTATGGT (SEQ ID NO: 91) (SEQ ID NO: 2022) 31 PITX2 AGTCGGGAGAGCGAAA (SEQ ID NO: 83) (SEQ ID NO: 2023) 32 PITX2 AGTTGGGAGAGTGAAA (SEQ ID NO: 83) (SEQ ID NO: 2024) 33 PITX2 AGTCGGGAGAGCGAAA (SEQ ID NO: 83) (SEQ ID NO: 2023) 34 PITX2 AGTTGGGAGAGTGAAA (SEQ ID NO: 83) (SEQ ID NO: 2024) 35 PITX2 AAGAGTCGGGAGTCGGA (SEQ ID NO: 83) (SEQ ID NO: 2025) 36 PITX2 AAGAGTTGGGAGTTGGA (SEQ ID NO: 83) (SEQ ID NO: 2026) 37 PITX2 AAGAGTCGGGAGTCGGA (SEQ ID NO: 83) (SEQ ID NO: 2025) 38 PITX2 AAGAGTTGGGAGTTGGA (SEQ ID NO: 83) (SEQ ID NO: 2026) 39 PITX2 GGTCGAAGAGTCGGGA (SEQ ID NO: 83) (SEQ ID NO: 2027) 40 PITX2 GGTTGAAGAGTTGGGA (SEQ ID NO: 83) (SEQ ID NO: 2028) 41 PITX2 GGTCGAAGAGTCGGGA (SEQ ID NO: 83) (SEQ ID NO: 2027) 42 PITX2 GGTTGAAGAGTTGGGA (SEQ ID NO: 83) (SEQ ID NO: 2028) 43 FGFR1 GTATTTCGTTGGTTAAGT (SEQ ID NO: 74) (SEQ ID NO: 2029) 44 FGFR1 GTGTATTTTGTTGGTTAA (SEQ ID NO: 74) (SEQ ID NO: 2030) 45 FGFR1 ATGTGAACGAAGTTAAG (SEQ ID NO: 74) (SEQ ID NO: 2031) 46 FGFR1 ATGTGAATGAAGTTAAGA (SEQ ID NO: 74) (SEQ ID NO: 2032) 47 PSA TTTCGATTCGGTTTAGA (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2009) 48 PSA AATTGTTTTGATTTGGTT (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2010) 49 PSA AGGAACGTTAGTCGTT (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2015) 50 PSA TAGGAATGTTAGTTGTTT (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2016) 51 PSA GGTCGTCGTATTATGGA (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2017) 52 PSA TGGTTGTTGTATTATGGA (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2018) 53 CGA TAAATTGACGTTATGGTA (SEQ ID NO: 91) (SEQ ID NO: 2019) 54 CGA AAATTGATGTTATGGTAAA (SEQ ID NO: 91) (SEQ ID NO: 2020) 55 CGA AATTGACGTTATGGTAAT (SEQ ID NO: 91) (SEQ ID NO: 2021) 56 CGA TAAAAATTGATGTTATGGT (SEQ ID NO: 91) (SEQ ID NO: 2022) 57 PTGS2 TTTATCGGGTTTACGTAATT (SEQ ID NO: 50) (SEQ ID NO: 2033) 58 PTGS2 TTTATTGGGTTTATGTAATT (SEQ ID NO: 50) (SEQ ID NO: 2034) 59 PTGS2 TTTATCGGGTTTACGTAATT (SEQ ID NO: 50) (SEQ ID NO: 2033) 60 PTGS2 TTTATTGGGTTTATGTAATT (SEQ ID NO: 50) (SEQ ID NO: 2034) 61 PTGS2 GTACGAAAAGGCGGAAAG (SEQ ID NO: 50) (SEQ ID NO: 2035) 62 PTGS2 GTATGAAAAGGTGGAAAG (SEQ ID NO: 50) (SEQ ID NO: 2036) 63 PTGS2 GTACGAAAAGGCGGAAAG (SEQ ID NO: 50) (SEQ ID NO: 2035) 64 PTGS2 GTATGAAAAGGTGGAAAG (SEQ ID NO: 50) (SEQ ID NO: 2036) 65 MSMB ATAGGGCGAAGGTTTA (SEQ ID NO: 99) (SEQ ID NO: 2037) 66 MSMB ATAGGGTGAAGGTTTAG (SEQ ID NO: 99) (SEQ ID NO: 2038) 67 TP53 TTTTTACGACGGTGAT (SEQ ID NO: 68) (SEQ ID NO: 2039) 68 TP53 TGTTTTTTATGATGGTGA (SEQ ID NO: 68) (SEQ ID NO: 2040) 69 CYP2D6 AAGTAGCGGTAAGGAT (SEQ ID NO: 92) (SEQ ID NO: 2041) 70 CYP2D6 GAAGTAGTGGTAAGGAT (SEQ ID NO: 92) (SEQ ID NO: 2042) 71 STMN1 GTTATCGGTTCGGGAATT (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2001) 72 STMN1 GTTATTGGTTTGGGAATT (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2002) 73 STMN1 GTTATCGGTTCGGGAATT  (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2001) 74 STMN1 GTTATTGGTTTGGGAATT (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2002) 75 STMN1 GTAAGAACGTATATAGTGAG (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2003) 76 STMN1 GTAAGAATGTATATAGTGAG (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2004) 77 STMN1 GTAAGAACGTATATAGTGAG (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2003) 78 STMN1 GTAAGAATGTATATAGTGAG (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2004) 79 STMN1 AGAAATTACGATGATGTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2005) 80 STMN1 AGAAATTATGATGATGTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2006) 81 STMN1 AGAAATTACGATGATGTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2005) 82 STMN1 AGAAATTATGATGATGTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2006) 83 STMN1 ATGGGTGATACGTCGGTG (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2007) 84 STMN1 ATGGGTGATATGTTGGTG (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2008) 85 STMN1 ATGGGTGATACGTCGGTG (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2007) 86 STMN1 ATGGGTGATATGTTGGTG (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 2008) 87 PSA TTTCGATTCGGTTTAGA (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2009) 88 PSA AATTGTTTTGATTTGGTT (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2010) 89 PSA TAATGGGGCGTCGATT (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2011) 90 PSA TTAATGGGGTGTTGATT (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2012) 91 PSA TATCGTAGCGGTTAGG (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2013) 92 PSA TATTGTAGTGGTTAGGAA (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2014) 93 PSA AGGAACGTTAGTCGTT (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2015) 94 PSA TAGGAATGTTAGTTGTTT (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2016) 95 PSA GGTCGTCGTATTATGGA (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2017) 96 PSA TGGTTGTTGTATTATGGA (SEQ ID NO: 90) (SEQ ID NO: 2018) 97 S100A2 TTTAATTGCGGTTGTGTG (SEQ ID NO: 41) (SEQ ID NO: 2043) 98 S100A2 TTTAATTGTGGTTGTGTG (SEQ ID NO: 41) (SEQ ID NO: 2044) 99 S100A2 TTTAATTGCGGTTGTGTG (SEQ ID NO: 41) (SEQ ID NO: 2043) 100 S100A2 TTTAATTGTGGTTGTGTG (SEQ ID NO: 41) (SEQ ID NO: 2044) 101 S100A2 TATATAGGCGTATGTATG (SEQ ID NO: 41) (SEQ ID NO: 2045) 102 S100A2 TATATAGGTGTATGTATG (SEQ ID NO: 41) (SEQ ID NO: 2046) 103 S100A2 TATATAGGCGTATGTATG  (SEQ ID NO: 41) (SEQ ID NO: 2045) 104 S100A2 TATATAGGTGTATGTATG (SEQ ID NO: 41) (SEQ ID NO: 2046) 105 S100A2 TATGTATACGAGTATTGGAT (SEQ ID NO: 41) (SEQ ID NO: 2047) 106 S100A2 TATGTATATGAGTATTGGAT (SEQ ID NO: 41) (SEQ ID NO: 2048) 107 S100A2 TATGTATACGAGTATTGGAT (SEQ ID NO: 41) (SEQ ID NO: 2047) 108 S100A2 TATGTATATGAGTATTGGAT (SEQ ID NO: 41) (SEQ ID NO: 2048) 109 S100A2 AGTTTTAGCGTGTGTTTA (SEQ ID NO: 41) (SEQ ID NO: 2049) 110 S100A2 AGTTTTAGTGTGTGTTTA (SEQ ID NO: 41) (SEQ ID NO: 2050) 111 S100A2 AGTTTTAGCGTGTGTTTA (SEQ ID NO: 41) (SEQ ID NO: 2049) 112 S100A2 AGTTTTAGTGTGTGTTTA (SEQ ID NO: 41) (SEQ ID NO: 2050) 113 SFN GAGTAGGTCGAACGTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 40) (SEQ ID NO: 2051) 114 SFN GAGTAGGTTGAATGTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 40) (SEQ ID NO: 2052) 115 SFN GAGTAGGTCGAACGTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 40) (SEQ ID NO: 2051) 116 SFN GAGTAGGTTGAATGTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 40) (SEQ ID NO: 2052) 117 SFN TTTGCGAAGAGCGAAATT (SEQ ID NO: 40) (SEQ ID NO: 2053) 118 SFN TTTGTGAAGAGTGAAATT (SEQ ID NO: 40) (SEQ ID NO: 2054) 119 SFN TTTGCGAAGAGCGAAATT (SEQ ID NO: 40) (SEQ ID NO: 2053) 120 SFN TTTGTGAAGAGTGAAATT (SEQ ID NO: 40) (SEQ ID NO: 2054) 121 SFN TAACGAGGAGGGTTCGGA (SEQ ID NO: 40) (SEQ ID NO: 2055) 122 SFN TAATGAGGAGGGTTTGGA (SEQ ID NO: 40) (SEQ ID NO: 2056) 123 SFN TAACGAGGAGGGTTCGGA (SEQ ID NO: 40) (SEQ ID NO: 2055) 124 SFN TAATGAGGAGGGTTTGGA (SEQ ID NO: 40) (SEQ ID NO: 2056) 125 SFN GTTCGAGGTGCGTGAGTA (SEQ ID NO: 40) (SEQ ID NO: 2057) 126 SFN GTTTGAGGTGTGTGAGTA (SEQ ID NO: 40) (SEQ ID NO: 2058) 127 SFN GTTCGAGGTGCGTGAGTA (SEQ ID NO: 40) (SEQ ID NO: 2057) 128 SFN GTTTGAGGTGTGTGAGTA (SEQ ID NO: 40) (SEQ ID NO: 2058) 129 PRKCD ATTTATTTTTCGTTGTAGG (SEQ ID NO: 121) (SEQ ID NO: 2059) 130 PRKCD TATTTATTTTTTGTTGTAGG (SEQ ID NO: 121) (SEQ ID NO: 2060) 131 PRKCD TTTCGGAAACGGGAAT (SEQ ID NO: 121) (SEQ ID NO: 2061) 132 PRKCD TAGTTTTGGAAATGGGA (SEQ ID NO: 121) (SEQ ID NO: 2062) 133 PRKCD GGACGGAGTTATCGGT (SEQ ID NO: 121) (SEQ ID NO: 2063) 134 PRKCD GGATGGAGTTATTGGTA (SEQ ID NO: 121) (SEQ ID NO: 2064) 135 PRKCD GTTTAGCGGAGGGATA (SEQ ID NO: 121) (SEQ ID NO: 2065) 136 PRKCD TGTTTAGTGGAGGGAT (SEQ ID NO: 121) (SEQ ID NO: 2066) 137 SYK GAAGTTATCGCGTTGG (SEQ ID NO: 78) (SEQ ID NO: 2067) 138 SYK AGAAGTTATTGTGTTGG (SEQ ID NO: 78) (SEQ ID NO: 2068) 139 SYK GATCGATGCGGTTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 78) (SEQ ID NO: 2069) 140 SYK GGGATTGATGTGGTTTA (SEQ ID NO: 78) (SEQ ID NO: 2070) 141 SYK GTTCGGCGGGAGGAGA (SEQ ID NO: 78) (SEQ ID NO: 2071) 142 SYK GTTTGGTGGGAGGAGA (SEQ ID NO: 78) (SEQ ID NO: 2072) 143 SYK GTTCGGCGGGAGGAGA (SEQ ID NO: 78) (SEQ ID NO: 2071) 144 SYK  GTTTGGTGGGAGGAGA (SEQ ID NO: 78) (SEQ ID NO: 2072) 145 SYK AGTCGATTTTCGTTTAG (SEQ ID NO: 78) (SEQ ID NO: 2073) 146 SYK TAGTTGATTTTTGTTTAGT (SEQ ID NO: 78) (SEQ ID NO: 2074) 147 SYK GGAAGAGTCGCGGGTT (SEQ ID NO: 78) (SEQ ID NO: 2075) 148 SYK GGAAGAGTTGTGGGTT (SEQ ID NO: 78) (SEQ ID NO: 2076) 149 SYK GGAAGAGTCGCGGGTT (SEQ ID NO: 78) (SEQ ID NO: 2075) 150 SYK GGAAGAGTTGTGGGTT (SEQ ID NO: 78) (SEQ ID NO: 2076) 151 VTN GGTGGTATCGATTGAT (SEQ ID NO: 115) (SEQ ID NO: 2077) 152 VTN TGGTGGTATTGATTGAT (SEQ ID NO: 115) (SEQ ID NO: 2078) 153 VTN TAGTGATTCGCGGGGA (SEQ ID NO: 115) (SEQ ID NO: 2079) 154 VTN TAGTGATTTGTGGGGA (SEQ ID NO: 115) (SEQ ID NO: 2080) 155 VTN TAGTGATTCGCGGGGA (SEQ ID NO: 115) (SEQ ID NO: 2079) 156 VTN TAGTGATTTGTGGGGA (SEQ ID NO: 115) (SEQ ID NO: 2080) 157 VTN TTATGTCGGAGGATGA (SEQ ID NO: 115) (SEQ ID NO: 2081) 158 VTN ATTATGTTGGAGGATGA (SEQ ID NO: 115) (SEQ ID NO: 2082) 159 VTN ATACGGTTTATGACGAT (SEQ ID NO: 115) (SEQ ID NO: 2083) 160 VTN ATATGGTTTATGATGATGG (SEQ ID NO: 115) (SEQ ID NO: 2084) 161 GRIN2D GAGAGTCGGGATGATT (SEQ ID NO: 86) (SEQ ID NO: 2085) 162 GRIN2D GGAGAGTTGGGATGAT (SEQ ID NO: 86) (SEQ ID NO: 2086) 163 GRIN2D AGAGATTTCGATTTGGA (SEQ ID NO: 86) (SEQ ID NO: 2087) 164 GRIN2D AAGAGATTTTGATTTGGA (SEQ ID NO: 86) (SEQ ID NO: 2088) 165 GRIN2D TAGGGTCGAGATTTGG (SEQ ID NO: 86) (SEQ ID NO: 2089) 166 GRIN2D TTAGGGTTGAGATTTGG (SEQ ID NO: 86) (SEQ ID NO: 2090) 167 GRIN2D AGTGTGGCGAATATTG (SEQ ID NO: 86) (SEQ ID NO: 2091) 168 GRIN2D GTGTGGTGAATATTGAA (SEQ ID NO: 86) (SEQ ID NO: 2092) 169 TGFBR2 GAAAACGTGGACGTTTTT (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2093) 170 TGFBR2 GAAAATGTGGATGTTTTT (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2094) 171 TGFBR2 GAAAACGTGGACGTTTTT (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2093) 172 TGFBR2 GAAAATGTGGATGTTTTT (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2094) 173 TGFBR2 ATTTGGAGCGAGGAATTT (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2095) 174 TGFBR2 ATTTGGAGTGAGGAATTT (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2096) 175 TGFBR2 ATTTGGAGCGAGGAATTT (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2095) 176 TGFBR2 ATTTGGAGTGAGGAATTT (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2096) 177 TGFBR2 AGTTGAAAGTCGGTTAAA (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2097) 178 TGFBR2 AGTTGAAAGTTGGTTAAA (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2098) 179 TGFBR2 AGTTGAAAGTCGGTTAAA (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2097) 180 TGFBR2 AGTTGAAAGTTGGTTAAA (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2098) 181 TGFBR2 AAAGTTTTCGGAGGGGTT (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2099) 182 TGFBR2 AAAGTTTTTGGAGGGGTT (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2100) 183 TGFBR2 AAAGTTTTCGGAGGGGTT (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2099) 184 TGFBR2 AAAGTTTTTGGAGGGGTT (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2100) 185 TGFBR2 GGTAGTTACGAGAGAGTT (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2101) 186 TGFBR2 GGTAGTTATGAGAGAGTT (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2102) 187 TGFBR2 GGTAGTTACGAGAGAGTT (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2101) 188 TGFBR2 GGTAGTTATGAGAGAGTT (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 2102) 189 COX7A2L TTGTTCGAAGATCGTT (SEQ ID NO: 105) (SEQ ID NO: 2103) 190 COX7A2L GTTGTTTGAAGATTGTTT (SEQ ID NO: 105) (SEQ ID NO: 2104) 191 COX7A2L TAGCGTAAGGATTCGGT (SEQ ID NO: 105) (SEQ ID NO: 2105) 192 COX7A2L TTAGTGTAAGGATTTGGT (SEQ ID NO: 105) (SEQ ID NO: 2106) 193 COX7A2L AGAGTTCGGTTTTTCGTA (SEQ ID NO: 105) (SEQ ID NO: 2107) 194 COX7A2L AGAGTTTGGTTTTTTGTA (SEQ ID NO: 105) (SEQ ID NO: 2108) 195 COX7A2L AGAGTTCGGTTTTTCGTA (SEQ ID NO: 105) (SEQ ID NO: 2107) 196 COX7A2L AGAGTTTGGTTTTTTGTA (SEQ ID NO: 105) (SEQ ID NO: 2108) 197 COX7A2L ATTCGTATTTGCGGGTTA (SEQ ID NO: 105) (SEQ ID NO: 2109) 198 COX7A2L ATTTGTATTTGTGGGTTA (SEQ ID NO: 105) (SEQ ID NO: 2110) 199 COX7A2L ATTCGTATTTGCGGGTTA (SEQ ID NO: 105) (SEQ ID NO: 2109) 200 COX7A2L ATTTGTATTTGTGGGTTA (SEQ ID NO: 105) (SEQ ID NO: 2110) 201 DAG1 TTTCGTGGCGGAGAAT (SEQ ID NO: 125) (SEQ ID NO: 2111) 202 DAG1 TTTTGTGGTGGAGAAT (SEQ ID NO: 125) (SEQ ID NO: 2112) 203 DAG1 TTTCGTGGCGGAGAAT (SEQ ID NO: 125) (SEQ ID NO: 2111) 204 DAG1 TTTTGTGGTGGAGAAT (SEQ ID NO: 125) (SEQ ID NO: 2112) 205 DAG1 TACGGATATTTCGGTT (SEQ ID NO: 125) (SEQ ID NO: 2113) 206 DAG1 AATTATGGATATTTTGGTT (SEQ ID NO: 125) (SEQ ID NO: 2114) 207 DAG1 TTACGATTCGTAGGTT (SEQ ID NO: 125) (SEQ ID NO: 2115) 208 DAG1 TATTATTATGATTTGTAGGT (SEQ ID NO: 125) (SEQ ID NO: 2116) 209 ONECUT2 TACGTAGTTGCGCGTT (SEQ ID NO: 126) (SEQ ID NO: 2117) 210 ONECUT2 GTATGTAGTTGTGTGTT (SEQ ID NO: 126) (SEQ ID NO: 2118) 211 ONECUT2 TTTTGTGCGTACGGAT (SEQ ID NO: 126) (SEQ ID NO: 2119) 212 ONECUT2 TTTTTGTGTGTATGGAT (SEQ ID NO: 126) (SEQ ID NO: 2120) 213 ONECUT2 TTAAGCGGGCGTTGAT (SEQ ID NO: 126) (SEQ ID NO: 2121) 214 ONECUT2 TTAAGTGGGTGTTGAT (SEQ ID NO: 126) (SEQ ID NO: 2122) 215 ONECUT2 TTAAGCGGGCGTTGAT (SEQ ID NO: 126) (SEQ ID NO: 2121) 216 ONECUT2 TTAAGTGGGTGTTGAT (SEQ ID NO: 126) (SEQ ID NO: 2122) 217 ONECUT2 TAGAGGCGCGGGTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 126) (SEQ ID NO: 2123) 218 ONECUT2 TAGAGGTGTGGGTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 126) (SEQ ID NO: 2124) 219 ONECUT2 TAGAGGCGCGGGTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 126) (SEQ ID NO: 2123) 220 ONECUT2 TAGAGGTGTGGGTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 126) (SEQ ID NO: 2124) 221 CYP2D6 GAGATCGCGTTTTCGT (SEQ ID NO: 129) (SEQ ID NO: 2125) 222 CYP2D6 AGAGATTGTGTTTTTGT (SEQ ID NO: 129) (SEQ ID NO: 2126) 223 CYP2D6 ATTCGCGGCGAGGATA (SEQ ID NO: 129) (SEQ ID NO: 2127) 224 CYP2D6 GATTTGTGGTGAGGAT (SEQ ID NO: 129) (SEQ ID NO: 2128) 225 CYP2D6 GTCGTTTCGGGGACGT (SEQ ID NO: 129) (SEQ ID NO: 2129) 226 CYP2D6 GTTGTTTTGGGGATGTG (SEQ ID NO: 129) (SEQ ID NO: 2130) 227 CYP2D6 TAAGTAGCGTCGATAG (SEQ ID NO: 129) (SEQ ID NO: 2131) 228 CYP2D6 AAGTAGTGTTGATAGGG (SEQ ID NO: 129) (SEQ ID NO: 2132) 229 WBP11 TTACGAGAAGCGGGTA (SEQ ID NO: 137) (SEQ ID NO: 2133) 230 WBP11 ATTATGAGAAGTGGGTA (SEQ ID NO: 137) (SEQ ID NO: 2134) 231 WBP11 AGGGGGCGATTTTCGG (SEQ ID NO: 137) (SEQ ID NO: 2135) 232 WBP11 TAGGGGGTGATTTTTGG (SEQ ID NO 137) (SEQ ID NO: 2136) 233 WBP11 TTAGCGTCGTTTGATT (SEQ ID NO: 137) (SEQ ID NO: 2137) 234 WBP11 TTTTAGTGTTGTTTGATT (SEQ ID NO: 137) (SEQ ID NO: 2138) 235 WBP11 AGTTCGTTTTATTGCGT (SEQ ID NO: 137) (SEQ ID NO: 2139) 236 WBP11 GAGTTTGTTTTATTGTGT (SEQ ID NO: 137) (SEQ ID NO: 2140)

TABLE 3 Predictive Score for Response^(a). Factor n P OR^(b) (95% CI)^(c) Traditional factors-based score^(d), (χ² = 10.9, 3 degrees of freedom) q1 q2 q3 q4 50 50 50 50 0.013 1 1.51 3.16 (0.68-3.38) (1.40- 2.90 7.15) (1.29-6.53) Methylation-based score^(e), (χ² = 44.3, 3 degrees of freedom) q1 q2 q3 q4 50 50 50 50 <0.001 1 1.47 5.52 (0.62-3.47) (2.34- 13.0 13.1) (4.97-33.8) ^(a)Logistic regression was used to test the strength of a relationship of a factor with the type of response to tamoxifen treatment; ^(b)Odds ratio; ^(c)95% confidence interval; ^(d)Score based on multivariable analysis of the traditional factors age (>70 yr, 55-70 yr, 41-55 yr versus ≦40 yr) dominant site of relapse (relapse to viscera or bone versus soft tissue), disease-free interval (>12 months versus ≦12 months), and log ER values. The score was divided into groups (q1-q4) based on the 25^(th), 50^(th) and 75^(th) percentile values; ^(e)Score based on the DNA methylation status of the 5 independent predicting genes PSA-T, STMN1, GRIN2D, TGFBR2 and S100A2. The score was divided into groups, q1-q4, same as for the traditional factors-based score.

TABLE 4 Sample Response LC assay methylation % Chip 1 Remission 80 + 2 Remission 27 + 3 Remission (outlier) 3 − 4 Remission 88 + 5 Remission 68 + 6 Remission 62 + 7 Remission 60 + 8 Remission 83 + 9 Remission 56 + 10 Remission (outlier) 0 − 11 Remission 0 + 12 Remission 0 + 13 Progressive Disease 0 − 14 Progressive Disease 0 − 15 Progressive Disease 4 − 16 Progressive Disease 7 − 17 Progressive Disease (outlier) 0 + 18 Progressive Disease 0 − 19 Progressive Disease 0 − 20 Progressive Disease 0 − 21 Progressive Disease 0 − 22 Progressive Disease 0 − 23 Progressive Disease (outlier) 0 + 24 Progressive Disease 0 − 

1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of a sequence at least 18 bases in length according to one of the sequences taken from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 411, 412, 515, 516, 685, 686, 789, and 790, and sequences complementary thereto.
 2. An isolated oligomer selected from an oligonucleotide or peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-oligomer, said oligomer consisting essentially of at least one base sequence having a length of at least 10 nucleotides which hybridises to or is identical to one of the nucleic acid sequences according to SEQ ID NO: 411, 412, 515, 516, 685, 686, 789, and
 790. 3. The isolated oligomer of claim 2, wherein the base sequence includes at least one CpG dinucleotide.
 4. A plurality of oligomers, comprising at least two oligomers of claim
 2. 5. A plurality of oligomers, comprising at least two oligomers of claim
 3. 6. A plurality of oligonucleotides comprising oligomers of claim 2, characterised in that at least one oligonucleotide is bound to a solid phase.
 7. A plurality of oligonucleotides comprising oligomers of claim 3, characterised in that at least one oligonucleotide is bound to a solid phase.
 8. A plurality of oligonucleotides comprising oligomers of claim 4, characterised in that at least one oligonucleotide is bound to a solid phase.
 9. A plurality of oligonucleotides comprising oligomers of claim 5, characterised in that at least one oligonucleotide is bound to a solid phase.
 10. A plurality of at least two oligonucleotides of claim 2, which is used as primer oligonucleotides for the amplification of nucleic acid sequences comprising one of SEQ ID NO: 411, 412, 515, 516, 685, 686, 789, and 790, and sequences complementary thereto.
 11. A plurality of at least two oligonucleotides of claim 3, which is used as primer oligonucleotides for the amplification of nucleic acid sequences comprising one of SEQ ID NO: 411, 412, 515, 516, 685, 686, 789, and 790, and sequences complementary thereto.
 12. A kit comprising a bisulfite reagent and a plurality of oligonucleotides and/or PNA-oligomers according to claim
 2. 13. A kit comprising a bisulfite reagent and a plurality of oligonucleotides and/or PNA-oligomers according to claim
 3. 14. A kit according to claim 12, further comprising reagents for performing a methylation assay from the group consisting of MS-SNuPE, MSP, Methyl light, Heavy Methyl, nucleic acid sequencing and combinations thereof.
 15. A kit according to claim 13, further comprising reagents for performing a methylation assay from the group consisting of MS-SNuPE, MSP, Methyl light, Heavy Methyl, nucleic acid sequencing and combinations thereof.
 16. A method for the treatment, characterisation, classification and/or differentiation of breast cell proliferative disorders comprising contacting a nucleic acid sample from a subject with an oligonucleotide or PNA-oligomer according to claim
 2. 17. A method for the treatment, characterisation, classification and/or differentiation of breast cell proliferative disorders comprising contacting a nucleic acid sample from a subject with an oligonucleotide or PNA-oligomer according to claim
 3. 